Christchurch Beekeepers Club

Field Day
2024-01-13 09:30 - 12:30, 2024-02-03 09:30 - 12:30, 2024-03-02 09:30 - 12:30, 2024-04-06 09:30 - 12:30 (Pacific/Auckland) | Club, 681 Cashmere Road, Christchurch, Canterbury, 8025, New Zealand

Field Day
2024-05-04 09:30 - 12:30
Last Field Day of the season May 4th 9.30am
Bring a jar of your premium honey for our Honey Show
NZ Beeswax are attending. See below for meeting specials.

Based in Orari, on the outskirts of Geraldine, and with our Hamilton Branch catering for our North Island Customers, you are always welcome to visit us for your Monday to Friday purchases or we can courier/freight.
Although our Company name states Beeswax – we provide All your Beekeeping requirements. Foundation (Only NZ Manufacturer using only NZ Beeswax), Frames, Feeders, Storeys etc, as well as the best bee nutritional products and varroa mite treatments.
Our product prices depend on quantity ordered and as confirmed members of the Christchurch Beekeepers Club, we will supply your Spring/Autumn Varroa Treatments as a “Group Club order” which can be individually ordered direct.
The following treatments are available and will be provided at special Club rates to confirmed members.
• Apivar – various pack sizes – 60’s, 12’s and convenient 4-pack.
2 x Strips per brood box
Supplied to Club Members at the 5000 + strip rate
• Bayvarol – boxes of 20 strips, individually packed in lots of 4 strips
4 x strips per Brood Box
Prided at full 720 x Strip carton rate for Club Members
(800 strip boxes also available to Club Members at the 12+ carton rate)
• Formic Pro – 2 dose pack for 2 Hives. Only organic treatment to get below the capped cells. Best used in Spring/Summer as require 3 x consecutive days at 10+ degrees.
Along with Bee Health Items such as
• Hive Alive (liquid Supplement designed especially for Bees and used throughout the International
Beekeeping World), to improve Gut Health and also stops Sugar Syrup from Fermenting
• Megabee Patties developed by USA Beekeepers for Beekeepers (made in NZ at our Orari factory).
These come in the large 20 kg box, or the smaller 5 kg Box (approx. 10 patties), either with or without Hive Alive additive. Perfect for freezing if not going to use them all over a Season.
• Easy Checks; (The genuine Easy Check!!) and the CO2 cannisters for Varroa checking without killing the bees.
Club Day Specials for May 4th 2024
Pre- Orders required for the following:
– email Gordon Nairn gnairn24@gmail.com or direct to tanya@beeswax.co.nz
Can pay cash on the day or we will email an invoice for payment prior to the meeting.
• 5kg Megabee Patties (Standard) @ $35.00 including gst (normally $52.90)
• 5kg Megabee Patties with Hive Alive @ $45.00 including gst (normally $59.80)
• Hive Alive 100mls $30.00 including gst (normally $32.66)
• Easy Checks $30.00 including gst (normally $33.35)
Feel free to contact us if there is anything I can bring on the day.
Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday 4th May
Tanya Gant
NZ Beeswax Ltd
Ph 03 693 9189 ext 1 (Caroline) or 2 (Tanya)

Field Day
2024-09-07 09:30 - 12:30
Early Bird tidy up (9.00am). We have dirt that needs moving before club start time. Shovels and wheelbarrows would be handy.

It’s a busy day with two speakers and a lesson in burning material at home.
Lindsay Moir will show a method of burning hiveware to members.
Marco Gonzalez from the Management Agency , National American Foulbrood Pest Management Plan will attend and discuss AFB to members
Tanya Gant from NZ Beeswax will give a talk at 10.30am and bring hive products to sell.

We will have a raffle of 2 flatpack 3/4 boxes, a feeder and a hive tool. $2 a ticket.

Club Day
2024-10-05 09:00 - 12:30
Getting to the Club Site is challenging – try coming in from the Halswell Quarry end- Kennedy’s Bush or in from Lincoln Rd to Henderson’s Rd and up to Cashmere Rd because of the road works blocking usual routes. Take care it can be frustrating.
9.00am start -You are welcome to help out with digging from 9-9.30am before we start. We need a small drainage ditch dug and a hole dug for the burn off. Please bring a spade and gloves.
Looking forward to having plenty for newbies and a follow up from the talks we have already had about disease management for all.

Beeline orders close byThursday 3rd midday
How to collect a swarm procedures will be discussed.
Lindsay Moir will demonstrate a way of burning AFB infected material at home safely.
Jeff Robinson will be running a Queen Raising Course on 15th Feb 2025 $145.00 non-members, $100.00 members
Andy is demonstrating how to requeen a hive and will be requeening both of our hives. Tests for varroa will also be demonstrated.
Lee is bring a nuc to increase the numbers of hives on site and will demonstrate moving bees and checking bees going from a nuc to a hive site. You will be reminded of what treatment do you use at the beginning of the Spring.
BBQ is provided for us to share, salads and other delicious dishes you are welcome to contribute.

November we will host Heather Hendrickson- to discuss the developments of her work with Phages and will be collecting samples from us to use in the research.

Field Day
2024-11-02 09:00 - 12:30
9.00-9.30 help out on site- 9.30 start -12.30pm
Beeline will be coming up in November – get your orders in asap.
Phages
Continuing our support of the research into phages that will help us in a battle to beat AFB
We have Danielle Kok from Canterbury University visiting and collecting soil samples from soil that is infront of your beehive. Members are encouraged to support this research into phages that is being carried out by Danielle and
Dr Heather Hendrickson
Associate Professor in Microbiology, University of Canterbury and
President, Te Manatōpū Mātai Koiora Moroiti | The New Zealand Microbiological Society.

Understanding the part that phages play in stopping the spread of AFB will help us to eliminate AFB.

Please bring a sample of soil and bee debris to be collected before the meeting.
Bee debris or soil can be placed in zip lock baggies or small jars with your registration number and name on it. Danielle will be in the carpark to collect the samples. We don’t want any sample with potential AFB on our hive site of course so the the collection point will be at the gate in the carpark please.

Field Day
2024-12-07 09:00 - 12:30
Xmas Field Day
Saturday 7th of December 2024
Early bees 9.00-9.30am (we need help with tidying at the back of the top shed).
Xmas welcome and what to do in Dec /Jan our next meeting is on the second Saturday of
Jan 11th at 9.00am.
Programme:
Tanya from NZ Beeswax is here to help with supplies of gear and to answer treatment
questions for members. Orders to be in by Wednesday 4th December
tanya@nzbeeswax.co.nz Direct Dial: Cell 021 02360623
We always enjoy celebrating our Xmas together and will be supplying a BBQ and Xmas
Cake. We love to have everyone contributing to a little plate of something to share with
others for a light lunch. Thank you to all of our regulars who know how much it is
appreciated.
There is a nuc raffle to be won on the day. $2.00 a ticket or 3 for $5.00.
Soil samples drop box will be at the sign in-area. Please keep donating your sealed and
labelled samples for us to get to Heather and Danelle for the research into Phages to help
stop AFB.
For Sale we have a number of items:
Christmas Special- $5.00 Flat pack ¾ box
Jars-250gm $30.00 for 50
Sticky boards $2.00 a board
A wiring frame demonstration -Lindsay Moir… we have some wiring boards for hire.
Subs are due, please contact Yvonne if you have any queries.

2025-01-11 09:00 - 12:30
9am start for site work.
HOVER FLY TALK (Bob from Lincoln Research) in January. Find out the effect Hover Fly has on wasps.
We will be discussing what equipment is needed to take honey off and extraction options available through the club.

Field Day
2025-02-01 09:00 - 12:30
Program…
Wasp control .

Water… for your bees.

Honey spinning demo.

BBQ.. bring a plate to share.

Open hives weather permitting.

Question time..

Field Day
2025-03-01 09:00 - 12:30
Early meeting for clean up on site. Volunteers needed to help with cleanup which will include sweeping/mopping Bathroom and sweeping seats etc. Also help in the garden spreading mulch. More red bricks are needed so if you have any to spare bring them along.
Honey tasting – how do you know what you have….try some of the Club honey.
Varroa treatments and testing. Have you done this yet and with what???
Sticky boards for sale – 3 for $5.
Tania from NZ Beeswax will be up with varroa treatments as well as gear to sell. Get you’re orders in early. Remember this is freight free as Tania will bring it to the club site on 1st March.

Field Day
2025-04-05 09:00 - 12:30
Gadget Day……This is YOUR day…have you made something ..did it work..NO then bring it along so others can give input and it might work…this is where like minded beeks solve problems.
Yes …things that work for you..have improvements being made or do you want help.
AFB course …yes its Free but check with Lindsay if you want it credited to your name.
BBQ ..please bring a plate of food to share.
MAY CLUB DAY….last meeting for the season….June/July winter shut down but remember to check your BEES.
Honey show…bring your honey samples along.
NO VISIT FROM …Beeline or NZBeeswax….But you can phone your orders in.
AGM…16TH August at 1pm at ST PATRICKS SCHOOL Hall …same place as last year.
looking for Committee ,Treasurer,Vice President.
Brian from Beeline will attend so get your orders in early.

Field Day
2025-05-03 09:00 - 12:30
Final club day for the season.
Honey Show Judge – Lindsay Moir
All members, novice and experienced, can participate in the Honey Show. Follow the rules posted, to be in to win one of the two Club Shields -the 2025 Novice or the Experienced Beekeepers Club Shield. Prizes to be announced later.
A shield is awarded to the entrant with the most points overall and a novice shield is awarded to a first or second year beekeeper. (This must be stated at the time).
General Rules:
• Members may only have one entry per class. If required, guidance will be given as to which class your entry should be exhibited in. The judges decision will be final.
• Exhibits must be delivered at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the judging.
• Liquid and creamed honey must be in standard 500 gm square”round” plastic jars with white lids.
• No labels on jars.
• Only exhibits from Financial members will be accepted.
• Write your initials (which may be on a small sticky label) on the BASE of the exhibit.
Classes:
1. Dark honey creamed
2. Dark honey liquid
3. Light honey creamed
4. Light honey liquid
5. Wax blocks 500 gm minimum weight
6. Mead 750 ml clear glass bottle
Details of each class
1 & 3. Dark creamed honey or light creamed honey
The entrant is to decide which class to enter.
The judge will take notice of flavour, colour, fineness of grain and freedom from foreign material. Please remember to obtain standard show jars. The reason for this uniformity is that different types of jars have varying light densities depending on the thickness of the glass.
2 & 4. Light liquid honey or dark liquid honey the same criteria as above.
5. Wax
Each exhibit must be at least 500gms in weight and from this season. It must be presented as tipped from the mould; points will be lost for chipping or scraping.
The Judge will look for colour, texture and purity. No restriction as to the shape of the mould.
Entrants are advised not to heat wax in iron or enamel containers as this can discolour the wax, for preference use an aluminium container. Do not overheat the wax; strain through stocking or similar; cool very slowly as this makes for uniformity of texture and freedom from cracking. Avoid propolis as this tends to darken the wax. Pure bees wax only to be used. One tea-spoon of vinegar helps to clarify wax.
6. Mead 750 ml clear glass bottle with removable cork or screw top.
No labels on bottle.
Write your initials (which may be on a small sticky label) on the BASE of the exhibit.

Field Day
2025-08-02 09:30 - 12:30, 2025-11-01 09:30 - 12:30, 2026-01-10 09:30 - 12:30, 2026-02-07 09:30 - 12:30, 2026-03-07 09:30 - 12:30, 2026-04-04 09:30 - 12:30, 2026-05-02 09:30 - 12:30
Field Days

Field Day
2025-09-06 09:30 - 14:00
Opening the hives – purpose and what we’re looking for.
Box and frame maintenance – cleaning, painting, rewiring, and foundation types (hands-on activity, everyone welcome to help).
NZBees wax orders – make sure you’ve placed yours. Tanya will bring them (freight free).
BBQ – please bring a plate of food to share.

Field Day
2025-10-11 09:30 - 12:30
Because last weekend was so wet, the Club Day has been moved to this Saturday, the 11th. We’ll start at 9:30 a.m. and go through until everyone heads home to check their hives. If possible, the Hive Master will demonstrate how to make a split on one of the hives.
See you then!

Field Day - Christmas Edition!
2025-12-06 09:30 - 12:30
Join us for our final Field Day of the year as we celebrate with a festive Christmas BBQ. Please bring a Christmas plate to share.
We’ll also be running a raffle for a nuc — tickets are $5.00 each.
What’s Happening on the Day
Varroa Monitoring DemonstrationsLearn several methods for checking your hives, including:

Using sticky boards (and how to make them)
Sugar shake testing
Alcohol wash monitoring

Special Guest: Tania from NZ BeeswaxTania will be on-site with supplies. Get in touch with her beforehand if you’d like to pre-order anything.
Frame Cleaning DemoLee will be demonstrating her steamer setup for efficient frame cleaning.
Craft CornerMake your own candles for Christmas gifts and enjoy a range of bee-themed festive crafts.

Looking Ahead
Our January Field Day will be held on the second Saturday, as always — January 10th at 9:30am.
