Application for exemption to travel restriction into, out of and through Auckland – 21 AUGUST
1982
TO:
Ministry of Health
FROM:
Apiculture New Zealand
DATE:
21 August 2020
ACT
CONTACT DETAILS:
Karin Kos, Chief executive,
s 9(2)(a)
Email: [email address]
Please accept this application for business exemptions to travel restriction into, out of and through
Auckland on behalf of the beekeeping businesses, listed below.
Apiculture New Zealand is the national body representing all sectors of the apiculture industry in
New Zealand.
We are making this application on behalf of businesses who have made contact with us based on the
INFORMATION
specific timing of the restrictions, and the negative impact the restrictions it would have on bee
health, and the ability to carry out pol ination services, which the wider food production industry is
critically reliant on.
Case for exemption
1. Bee Health:
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This week represents the beginning of the beekeeping season where commercial beekeepers are
working extensively to feed hives and check for disease. If beekeepers are not able to carry out this
activity there will almost certainly be widespread loss of beehives (bees will starve).
THE
Without bees, our primary industries wil suffer
Bees supply an export honey industry worth more than $425 mil ion, but they are not simply
producers of honey. Bee health has far-reaching impacts on the local economy and environment,
playing a critical role in supporting tree and crop farming, dairy farming, animal meat production and
some forestry. Pollination services alone are worth $5 billion to the NZ economy.
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The importance of bees is further stated by MPI on their role in biosecurity a readiness response
https://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/protection-and-response/readiness/bee-biosecurity/
2. Pollination:
Beekeeping businesses that carry out pollination services are typically on 24 - 48 hour notice to
move beehives onto orchards and crops to start the pollination process. Failure to be able to fulfil
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this work will likely mean crops will fail (without access to alternative bee pollination services), and
with this the cumulative prospect of less food available for the year ahead.
Bee pol ination is critical to the function of the horticulture industry
Gazette notice 2020-go3789 records the exemption of “horticultural workers involved in the 1982
production, processing, transport and supply of fresh produce between Pukekohe and the
surrounding areas”.
The Pukekohe area and surrounds have a high number of growers involved in food production for
ACT
the domestic and export markets.
From the beginning of August beekeepers move hives to orchards to pol inate crops. If these hives
cannot be moved to orchards to pollinate fruit there will be a significant reduction in pollination with
a flow on effect to food production.
There is a limited window for pol ination dependant on when crops are flowering, these hives need
to be moved quickly and the heath of the bee’s monitored by the beekeepers.
3. Consequences of beekeepers not being able to cross the border
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The consequences have now been widely publicised in media reports this week.
On Thursday 20 August Newshub published an article headlined
Coronavirus: Mil ions of bees starve
to death as beekeepers held up at COVID-19 checkpoints
On Friday 21 August Apiculture New Zealand chief executive Karin Kos appeared on
Newstalk ZB
breakfast programme, reiterating the negative impact on bee health (see above), the implications if
hives are not treated for disease prevention at the beginning of the season, and the potential of loss
OFFICIAL
of food production if crops are not able to pol inated.
THE
4. Do beekeepers have to travel – can the work be carried out by someone local y?
Apiculture New Zealand has stressed in its protocols and to those applying for an exemption (see
below), that beekeepers can only travel where their work relates to bee health and providing food
crops with pollination services.
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Most beekeeping businesses have a single operating base and staff travel to their hive sites in
vehicles. In al cases, people working in these businesses wil be the only ones who know where their
hives are – often in remote, or hard to access locations.
Beehives do not have GPS technology/locators on them, and it is likely only one or two staff
members of that business will know exactly where the hives are located. They are often in and
around bush, with access by unformed/dirt tracks and roads.
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The person inspecting the hives needs to be someone who last saw the hive as they wil be able to
detect changes in the hive structure, for health/disease.
In addition, it would be extremely difficult finding a qualified beekeeper with necessary vehicles and
gear to inspect and move hives on behalf of another beekeeper – even if the locations were 1982
identifiable.
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5. How beekeepers carry out time/season-critical work
Beekeepers drive to their beehive locations.
Where applicable they will have pre-arranged the visit with landowners, to make sure there will be
no chance of person-to-person contact (see industry protocols below).
They park vehicles next to their apiaries (group of hives) and inspect them for disease, and ensure
they are functioning (hive entrances are open). They wil also ensure the bees have adequate feed
and access to water.
Once completed, beekeepers return to their operational base.
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Those beekeepers who have sought exemptions have agreed to abide by the industry protocols and
commit to direct travel from their operational bases to their hive sites, and back.
6. Can the work be delayed?
Non-essential maintenance work will be delayed and wil not be undertaken by beekeepers.
OFFICIAL
The only work that will be carried out is that which is time-critical – that means checking hives for
bee health and disease prevention and delivering hives to orchards for pollination.
THE
7. Economic risk
Failure to place ensure hives are healthy and in the right place at the spring flowering starts will have
a damaging economic impact on individual businesses, but the wider economic risk is more of a
threat – if horticultural crops are not pollinated at exactly the right time, there is real potential for
the loss of those crops for a whole season, and with that a loss of food supply for the coming year.
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This would have consequences for both the domestic economy and for the wider primary sector’s
export revenue. As stated above, pollination services are worth $5 billion to the economy.
8. Measures in place to mitigate Covid-19 risks – transporting infection prevention
The beekeeping businesses listed below all have experience in working as an essential service under
the previous lockdown levels 3 and 4. They are aware of their responsibilities and have collectively
offered assurances they wil not come into contact with any people on cross-border travel – they will
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visit hive sites only (remote from the public) and will not stop on the way to or when returning from
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work. There will be no contact with landowners based on Covid-19 protocols already well
established.
The Protocols they wil be observed are those they have previously adhered to – see below: 1982
NEW PROTOCOLS FOR COMMERCIAL BEEKEEPERS
At Alert Level 3 all workplaces should strive for social distancing of at least 1 metre. ACT
It is recommended you travel as part of an existing work bubble. Records are to be kept on who
travelled together and to which locations. Only travel where you absolutely need to manage bee
health or provide services for pollination. There should be no travelling for maintenance or not
essential work.
• All people working together should regularly wash and sanitise hands.
• Establish processes for staff to report illnesses or potential exposure on a daily basis.
• Establish steps you will take in the event of a staff member having either confirmed infection
or had contact with someone who has been infected.
• Physical distancing should be practiced at al times when working with beehives keep a pallet
space between each other).
• Communication with landowners should be by phone. Restrict ‘on farm’ interactions with
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landowners to a ‘wave’ and make clear the hygiene protocols you will undertake when
accessing farms. This should include, for instance, sanitising hands before opening and
closing gates.
• Vehicle steering wheels and door handles should be sanitised daily, or as drivers change.
• Sanitising should also include any shared tools in use such as in the workshop.
• Each vehicle should be equipped with a wash bucket, suitable disinfectant/sanitiser, soap,
paper towels and a rubbish bag for disposals.
OFFICIAL
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List of those beekeeping businesses seeking exemptions based on the above criteria follows.
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Business name
Address
NZ Business
Contact person
Email address
Phone
number
number
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