A new report on some very important pollinators will be presented at Parliament this week designed to get bee health talked about in the Beehive.
Steffan Browning. Photo: Supplied
The report by the Primary Production select committee is expected to endorse industry efforts to conduct a national bee population survey so a clearer picture can emerge of how many have been lost.
At present, there are only anecdotal reports from beekeepers.
The report will also discuss systemic insecticides, known as neonicotinoids, and the linking of them to Colony Collapse Disorder overseas.
The Green Party's primary industries spokesperson, Steffan Browning, is critical of the lack of monitoring of neonicotinoids in New Zealand.
"There's neither direct research happening around neonicotinoids in New Zealand or (nor) monitoring of the volumes used," he says."
"We have good scientists here that could be looking at the affects of neonicotinoids; the systemic affect of them coming up through the plant, coming out through the pollen and the nectar.
"We could be doing research like that in New Zealand, not waiting to be a follower of what's happening elsewhere in the world. We need to be ahead of the game on this, take a precautionary approach - do the research right here."
