Joan Leitch, the author of this historical novel about Miss Bumby will be holding a Book Launch event in Christchurch on 10th May. Joan writes: ‘My novel, Miss Bumby’s Mission, is about Mary’s voyage to NZ with two skeps of bees and her early years tending to them in the Hokianga. I’m a beekeeper, and I included plenty of details about bees and keeping, including some which were needed for skeps but not for Langstroths. I even took a course in the UK about skep-making!’Joan is a member and former secretary  of Franklin Bee Club.

Joan was interviewed in an item about her book recently on RNZ. Click here to hear the recording:

https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/nights/audio/2018982407/new-zealand-s-first-beekeeper

The Book Launch will be at 3.00pm Saturday 10th May  in the Spark Room, Turanga (Christchurch Central Library). 

Lindsay reported quiet out there. Exotics surveillance starting.

Lindsay suggests club should hold an AFB refresher course.. $30 cost for refresher. We decided 5th April after the Field Day and to start at 1pm

All 3 hives doing well.

Andy spun out 13kg honey off Hive#1. Honey jarred up and 2 candles were also made up for the Van Asch family.

Plan to continue varroa checking and check stores next club day.

Plan to have honey tasting table set up. Members to be asked to bring in samples.. Honey tasting sticks needed.

Jeff has new Papanui course starting this week.

Queen Raising course – went well. 5 students attended. Used Hive 1 for the Starter/finisher.

As the year comes to a close, we want to wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Thank you for being a part of our community—we look forward to an exciting year ahead with you.

Reminder: Don’t forget to mark your calendars for our January Field Day!
📅 Date: 11/1/2025
📍 Location: Club grounds
🌟 Join us for a day of fun, learning, and connection. We can’t wait to see you there!

Stay safe, enjoy the holiday season, and we’ll see you in the New Year!

Warm wishes,
Christchurch Beekeepers Club

What a beautiful morning after a very cold frosty nights!

The southern alps are covered in snow and looked tremendous and the day was bright. 

Jeff Robinson talked about how we can ‘wake up’ the bees after winter. Introducing several new people visiting for the first time to the bees hives on site and how we check on them at this time of year.

Jeff will be running a one day course on Saturday 14th of September please contact our secretary Lee on beekiwi@gmail.com to register your interest.

With much sadness I’m writing to let the Christchurch Hobbyist Beekeepers Club know that my lovely (and sometimes quirky) dad, Jeff Chandler, passed away on Sunday evening after becoming unwell in the morning.  It all happened rather quickly but it was peaceful and pain free.  We had planned to do some hedge trimming so we were with him all day which I will always be grateful for.
Can you please share this with who you think would like to know, possibly the swarm collectors.
He was a long time member of the club but in recent years you would have found him probably hanging around your sheds.
Jeff was pretty enthusiastic about beekeeping and I am going to have to reach out soon for some help and advice on his current hires. I don’t know where all of them are or how many there are at the moment. I think that he has been winter feeding them which we’ll need to keep up and then find some new bee hive custodians in the future.

Kind regards
Jo Chandler