First of all, commiserations to our friends in New Zealand.  If it is of any
consolation, arriving late in the great game means that you can learn from
other people's mistakes.

My only advice based on personal experience is to beware the third year, 2002
in your case.  Varroa was found in September? 1992 in UK in Devon, the next
county to me, about 60 miles away.  I found my first in April 1993.  That
year was ok, so was 1994.  1995 was the best year for a long time for honey
but come the autumn the population crashes cut in.  I went down from 9 to 3
colonies.  A chap a few miles away went down from 39 to 1, so I was one of
the luckier ones.  We were all using Bayvarol and spending a fortune on it.
It is amazing how the price has come down now there is competition in the
market place.

Referring now to Mark Spagnolo's post I do not understand his statement that
if beeeding is the answer to controlling mites, a mite free environment is
crucial.  I would have thought the opposite would be true.

Chris Slade