> And a question for New Zealand beekeepers: How far across is Cook Strait?

Cook Strait, the waterway between the North and South Islands of New
Zealand, is about 22km (13.6 miles) as the crow would fly (!) between the
closest pieces of land.  That is, in fact, to an island off the South
Island...

The Cook Strait can be a pretty inhospitable stretch of water, with erratic
weather and currents.  It is travelled daily by passenger/vehicle/rail
ferries on a scheduled basis.  There is no sense of 'customs' on either
side, or any obvious agricultural security provisions currently in place.
Both islands are, after all, New Zealand...