Bee-keepers given boost with classes

THE BUZZ: Apiculture is a growing industry in New Zealand that needs skilled workers and the Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre is to deliver the National Certificate in Apiculture, Level 2. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre will this year start classes in bee-keeping.

Centre spokeswoman Yvonne Way said apiculture - the art of bee-keeping - is a growing industry in New Zealand that needs skilled workers, and Taratahi will this year deliver the National Certificate in Apiculture, Level 2.

"There is a huge shortage of workers in this industry. New Zealand honey and honey products are in high demand both domestically and worldwide, but producers can only expand to meet market demands by employing more people."

Taratahi chief executive Dr Donovan Wearing said the National Certificate in Apiculture is a programme that would benefit not only hobbyists, but those already in the industry who need a formal qualification, or those who want to enter this developing industry.

"Apiculture is one of many diverse rolls in the agricultural industry. It's staggering how many different types of jobs there are, apiculture is just one that can provide students with a diverse career path both here and overseas," he said.

"When we visit schools and talk to students and career advisers we always tell them about the variety of roles available to them. Yes, you can be a shepherd or dairy assistant, but you can also venture further afield and become a vet, a bee-keeper, a stock agent, a rural consultant or even an agri-scientist.

"The list goes on and on and every one of these roles is crucial to our industry. We will always need skilled and qualified workers to make sure that our industry as a whole continues to flourish and lead the world."

The apiculture programme at Taratahi will be available from September with both full-time and part-time study options at the centre's Masterton campus, Mrs Way said.

The full-time programme will be run four days per week over 13 weeks and the part-time programme will run at weekends and week nights.

Modules will include safety and hazards, opening, closing and feeding beehives, preparation for the winter months, re-queening a hive, identifying and treatment of diseases, extraction, repairing and moving beehives.

"The apiculture industry has a shortage of skilled employees, so this new opportunity for training is a win-win for future students and the industry as a whole," Mrs Way said.

Just over 3000 registered bee-keepers today manage more than 350,000 beehives around New Zealand and bees are crucial to New Zealand's primary sector, pollinating about a third of our food sources, she said.

Bees also produce many different types of honey, including clover, manuka and thyme, and a variety of other bee products such as beeswax, pollen, propolis, and live bees for export.

New Zealand honey bee products are sought after worldwide. About 9000 to 12,000 tonnes of honey are produced annually, with almost one-third to half being exported.