Mānuka Honey and Beekeeping Consultancy

If you keep bees in New Zealand, you already know the pain points: long dearth periods, monoculture landscapes, declining forage diversity, and the rising cost of pollen supplements that still do not perform like real pollen. A new 2025 Nature  study has identified exactly what is missing from current supplements—and has developed a breakthrough yeast-based solution that could eventually allow colonies to rear brood even when no pollen is available. This research has major im

A new biosecurity threat has arrived on our shores — the Yellow-legged Hornet (Vespa velutina)  has been detected in Auckland . While Biosecurity NZ is actively working to eradicate it, every beekeeper’s vigilance will be essential to stop it from spreading. What Is the Yellow-Legged Hornet? Originally from Asia, the Yellow-legged Hornet is a highly efficient predator of honeybees and other insects . It was accidentally introduced into Europe about 20 years ago, where it spre

A new 2025 scientific review by Ivana Tlak Gajger and colleagues, “Strategies to Mitigate the Adverse Impacts of Viral Infections on Honey Bee Colonies,”  lays out what we actually know — and don’t know — about protecting colonies from bee viruses. It’s one of the clearest, most practical overviews yet on this fast-moving topic. The Problem Honey bees face at least 18 known viruses that can weaken colonies, deform wings, shorten lifespans, and quietly contribute to winter los