Shane Ardern MP
National Biosecurity Spokesman

25 January 2007

Beekeepers Let Down By Biosecurity Minister

National’s Biosecurity spokesman, Shane Ardern, is disappointed but not surprised that the Government has given up trying to eradicate Varroa from the Nelson area.

“The bee industry feels let down by the Minister of Biosecurity, and so they should.

“Biosecurity missed out on the opportunity to get rid of Varroa from the South Island when they failed to properly plan a programme to wipe out feral bees, and when the Minister refused to allow the full powers of the Biosecurity Act to be used for the eradication attempt.

“This was the chance to eradicate the mite and Biosecurity New Zealand couldn’t even secure the required insecticide.

“The whole eradication programme has been thwarted from the outset, and blame must lie with Biosecurity Minister Jim Anderton, who was slow to react, slow to decide and was ill prepared for the outbreak.

“Beekeepers have a right to be disappointed. They have worked tirelessly trying to keep the Varroa in check, only to be let down by the Labour Government.

“There now is an inevitability that Varroa will spread throughout the South Island.

“Hives overseas are becoming resistant to the Varroa treatment and we should not wait for this to happen in New Zealand.

“For once, the Minister must be ahead of the game and not wait for the inevitable to happen.”

ENDS

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