The Country
  • The Country home
  • Latest news
  • Audio & podcasts
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life
  • Listen on iHeart radio

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • Coast & Country News
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Horticulture
  • Animal health
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life

Media

  • Podcasts
  • Video

Weather

  • Kaitaia
  • Whāngarei
  • Dargaville
  • Auckland
  • Thames
  • Tauranga
  • Hamilton
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Te Kuiti
  • Taumurunui
  • Taupō
  • Gisborne
  • New Plymouth
  • Napier
  • Hastings
  • Dannevirke
  • Whanganui
  • Palmerston North
  • Levin
  • Paraparaumu
  • Masterton
  • Wellington
  • Motueka
  • Nelson
  • Blenheim
  • Westport
  • Reefton
  • Kaikōura
  • Greymouth
  • Hokitika
  • Christchurch
  • Ashburton
  • Timaru
  • Wānaka
  • Oamaru
  • Queenstown
  • Dunedin
  • Gore
  • Invercargill

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / The Country

Police set up national bee database to combat hive crimes

Whanganui Chronicle
29 Aug, 2018 04:00 AM2 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Beehive thefts have increased throughout the country. Photo / File

Beehive thefts have increased throughout the country. Photo / File

Police are now compiling a national database of beehives to help combat hive thefts.

"Police are very concerned about the rising number of reported beehive thefts across New Zealand as this crime is costing apiarists millions of dollars each year," Whanganui detective Karl Reyland said.

"We are working with a number of partner agencies, such as Apiculture NZ and the Ministry of Primary Industries, to reduce the occurrence of beehive and honey thefts."

Read more: Beekeepers weigh levies in Central Otago
Whanganui beekeepers turn detective and front up to thieves who stole hives

.
.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

That involved forming close, working relationships with those involved in the industry, who have an in-depth knowledge of the issue and effects of these crimes.

He said the group was working to improve the intelligence on beehives, honey and those stealing them, as well as improving investigative methods.

"A national database is being developed to improve information gathering. Similar databases already exist now in specific areas and allow us to monitor hive movements more proactively."

Reyland said police and local beekeepers were working on traceability initiatives to permanently trace hives and frames.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"Reducing beehive thefts requires help from those within the industry and members of the public. Police ask members of the public to keep us informed and to remain cautious of suspicious behaviour in and around hive areas."

Police had a number of suggestions for apiarists to help ensure the safety of their hives, including using pressure pads, tracking devices, and outdoor surveillance cameras.

The advice follows the successful prosecution last week for theft of 60 hives worth more than $50,000 from a Whanganui honey business.

Reyland said the theft of Settlers Honey beehives would have caused considerable disruption to the business and its owners.

Discover more

No better time to bee learning about honey

05 Aug 11:00 PM
Politics

National hikoi diverts to Whanganui manufacturing site

12 Aug 05:00 PM

Mānuka planting increasing, more needed

23 Aug 01:00 AM
New Zealand|crime

Like a Sherlock Holmes case, beekeepers track down stolen hives

25 Aug 06:49 PM
Save

    Share this article

Latest from The Country

The Country

How NZ is tackling worker protection issues in the primary industries

10 Jul 10:30 PM
The Country

Dog helps find rare bird colony 'not seen for decades'

10 Jul 10:28 PM
live
The Country

'Threat to life': Tasman District upgraded to red warning; flood water enters homes

10 Jul 10:27 PM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from The Country

How NZ is tackling worker protection issues in the primary industries

How NZ is tackling worker protection issues in the primary industries

10 Jul 10:30 PM

NZ officials are confident in worker protection as Australian breaches surface.

Dog helps find rare bird colony 'not seen for decades'

Dog helps find rare bird colony 'not seen for decades'

10 Jul 10:28 PM
'Threat to life': Tasman District upgraded to red warning; flood water enters homes
live

'Threat to life': Tasman District upgraded to red warning; flood water enters homes

10 Jul 10:27 PM
Mahia Hunt holds final fixture after marking 125th anniversary

Mahia Hunt holds final fixture after marking 125th anniversary

10 Jul 09:05 PM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP