This is from Indep Newspapers Ltd, a main chain in New Zealand.


Boost for beekeepers

19 JULY 2000
By JOHN MCMENAMIN

A leading honey based Paengaroa company is aiming to offer some relief to
the nation's beekeepers stung by the varroa bee mite menace.

For the foreseeable future, Comvita New Zealand will buy every gram of
propolis New Zealand beekeepers can produce, says its Chief Executive,
Graeme Boyd.

Propolis is a vital ingredient for many of Comvita's nationally and
internationally marketed natural remedy products.

Comvita has a desperate need of all the propolis it can obtain at present
and its willing to pay $150 per kilogram, promptly on delivery.

Mr Boyd says an annual scraping of propolis from a hive could significantly
offset the costs of mite control.

He is aware that many beekeepers do not scarp their hives and he hopes they
will now see it as a much more viable option, helping balance out the harm
posed to them by the bee-killing mite.

For the foreseeable future, Comvita New Zealand will buy every gram of
propolis New Zealand beekeepers can produce, says it's Chief Executive,
Graeme Boyd. Propolis is a vital ingredient for many of Comvita's nationally
and internationally marketed natural remedy products.

Comvita has a desperate need of all the propolis it can obtain at present
and its willing to pay $150 per kilogram, promptly on delivery.

Mr Boyd says an annual scraping of propolis from a hive could significantly
offset the costs of mite control.

He is aware that many beekeepers do not scarp their hives and he hopes they
will now see it as a much more viable option, helping balance out the harm
posed to them by the bee-killing mite.  Comvita has a desperate need of all
the propolis it can obtain at present and its willing to pay $150 per
kilogram, promptly on delivery.

Mr Boyd says an annual scraping of propolis from a hive could significantly
offset the costs of mite control.  He is aware that many beekeepers do not
scarp their hives and he hopes they will now see it as a much more viable
option, helping balance out the harm posed to them by the bee-killing mite.

Mr Boyd says Comvita is very concerned at the impact the mite problem is
having on beekeepers and wants to do all it can to assist them through a
difficult time.

This also extends to trying to facilitate natural remedy options in keeping
with its nature based philosophies.

While the varroa mite has no effect on the quality of honey and derivative
products, it could impact on production and the vital pollination provided
by bees in horticulture and agriculture.

Mr Boyd says for these reasons and more it is crucial to maintaining the
beekeeping industry as a viable one and Comvita is committed to utilising
all the resources it has at hand to help.

~~

-
Robt Mann
consultant ecologist
P O Box 28878   Remuera, Auckland 1005, New Zealand
                (9) 524 2949