HortNews
	MAF Accepts Defeat In Varroa Movement Control

WELLINGTON 22/09/2003 - The Government has surrendered to the invasive beehive pest varroa mite in the North Island.

The beehive movement control line across the centre of the North Island will be axed on Wednesday, allowing infected hives to be moved between the upper North Island and East Cape, Taranaki, Manawatu, Horowhenua and Wellington.

"More restrictive movement controls will not stop the inevitable spread of varroa throughout the North Island,"

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) varroa programme coordinator Paul Bolger said.

"The movement control line was no longer serving any useful purpose."

Instead, lesser conditional movement controls will be put in place around Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa, mainly to slow spread of the mite in those regions.

"This has been a very difficult decision made after extensive discussions with the beekeeping industry," Mr Bolger said.

"Generally the decision has support from the bee-keeping industry but it does not have the full consensus of other movement control decisions.

"MAF has confirmed low level varroa infestation in Hawke's Bay.

"It is probable that the mite has also spread into the Wairarapa region, because of the volume of risk materials moved into the Wairarapa over the past summer."

Beekeepers would still require a permit to be able to move their hives over the new line, and permits would only be given for hives which had been treated to kill mites.

Restrictions preventing the movement of bees, hives and beekeeping equipment to the South Island will remain in place, and will be extended to incorporate Great Barrier Island.