Field Day
2025-02-01 09:00 - 12:30 (Pacific/Auckland) | Club, 681 Cashmere Road, Christchurch, Canterbury, 8025, New Zealand
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.
