Sustainable Beekeeping by and for Maori Landowners

Ian Raine1, Xun Li1, Linda Newstrom-Lloyd2, Angus McPherson2, Wiremu Kaa3, Rangi Raroa3, Rapata Kaa3, Maia Taaremaia3 1GNS Science, Lower Hutt; 2Trees for Bees team, Hastings & Dunedin; 3Naati Beez team, Tikitiki. Email contact: [email protected]

INTRODUCTION AIM BENEFITS Naati Beez, a māori group of beekeepers, is The aim is enable local beekeeping operations Avoid cost of moving hives to external pollen conducting a sustainable beekeeping research to become residential and sustainable in sources project in Rangitukia, near Tikitiki on the East harmony with the natural environment primarily Avoid cost of artificial pollen products. Coast north of Gisborne, co-funded by the MPI dominated by native , by providing more Sustainable Farming Fund, GNS Science, natural pollen from locally-sourced native Improve health of bee colonies through better Eastland Community Trust and Ngati Porou. plants. local pollen and nectar resources.

FIELD AND LAB METHODS A, B: A one year pilot study mid-2015 to mid- 2016 using a small trial apiary in a forest- margin regrowth area of mainly mixed mānuka and gorse was designed to trial methods which can be applied elsewhere. C: Pollen pellets were collected from hive traps at fortnightly (late winter-spring) and monthly intervals (summer-autumn). Different trap designs have been trialled. Honey samples were also taken, and regular A B C observations made of plants in flower. D: Pollen was sorted for identification and nutrient analysis, and volumes recorded. E: Pollen in pellets and honey was prepared for microscopic identification. F: Pollen was identified and statistical counts made for honey and bulk pollen samples. F E D G G: Relative abundances were calculated.

EARLY RESULTS B. Comparison of pollen and nectar sources AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY A. Pollen sources through the year Ulex H H M H H H H Honey recovered during late winter-early spring was initially Pinus L M partly old honey retained in the brood comb from the previous The preliminary pollen calendar at right shows major (H), L L L season, but in part also reflects some nectar gathering from Ulex moderate (M), and minor (L) pollen sources. In any trap Nothofagus H and Calluna (Ericaceae) which were flowering at this time. Honey period, pollen collection varied between hives, and trace Salix L recovered in late spring shows a variety of nectar sources, quantities of pollen from other plants also occurred. Populus L H including the onset of manuka/kanuka nectar gathering. Many of the major sources are at present introduced Cytisus H H Knightia H Honey sampled during summer was mainly from manuka and plants, but we want to increase the role of natives. Coriaria H M kanuka. It is notable that neither in late spring nor in summer was During the late winter to early spring interval, pollen Pittosporum H manuka/kanuka pollen found in the bee pollen pellets. results confirmed the importance of Ulex (gorse) but the Macropiper M Hedycarya M Late summer and early autumn honey continued to be derived role of Pinus and Nothofagus was unexpected. Dodonaea M mainly from manuka/kanuka, but with a greater proportion of A great diversification of pollen sources occurred Dacrycarpus M other nectar sources than in early to mid-summer. Phyllocladus L during the late spring interval. Important native sources Late August mid-December late February

Freycinetia L Pollen Apiaceae Hoheria Vitex included Knightia, Coriaria, Pittosporum, Macropiper, pellets Rosaceae Taraxacum Pinus Schefflera Coprosma L Ulex Plantago Metrosideros Hedycarya, Dodonaea, Dacrycarpus and Clematis. Clematis M M Quintinia Taraxacum Lotus Metrosideros Coriaria Asteraceae Asteraceae M L L L Trifolium Lotus During early to mid-summer pollen from herbaceous Cordyline Clematis Trifolium H M M L plants became more prominent. Clematis, Cordyline Pelargonium L (cabbage ) and Rhopalostylis (nikau) were the most Cordyline L M Apiaceae Coriaria Trifolium Ulex Rubus important natives. Rhopalostylis Taraxacum L L L H L Ranunculaceae Asteraceae

Plantago M L Honey The summer pattern of pollen in bee pellets continued Trifolium Others Others Apiaceae H H H Ulex Ranunculaceae Apiaceae Weinmannia Rubus Others Trifolium Pseudopanax into late February. Among native plants, Rhopalostylis Pseudopanax Lotus Rhopalostylis Rhopalostylis M M L L Trifolium

remained important, and Schefflera (patē, seven-finger) Lamiaceae L M L Lamiaceae appeared. Ulex (gorse) reappeared at this time, and Schefflera M H M became the predominant pollen source in autumn, Lotus L Ericaceae Vicia L Leptospermum similar to the late winter/early spring pattern. Native /Kunzea

Hoheria/Plagianthus L Lotus pollen sources in autumn included Schefflera, Hoheria, Leptospermum Metrosideros L Leptospermum /Kunzea Metrosideros (rata) and Vitex (puriri).

APPLICATION

Flowering Calendar & 300 250

The work includes creating a flowering 200 Bee Feed Budg et for calendar, a local bee plant catalogue, and 150

Number of Trees 100 planting designs for bee feed plantations 50 Target 0 L T P C R B R Y V G N N E E C E U P A A A O U U

Plant J S that supply plentiful pollen and nectar for F J J D A O A N M M

the 9 to 10 months of the year when NUMBER OF TREES JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY

mānuka is not flowering. Leptospermum scoparium Mānuka

1 Pittosporum eugenioides Tarata 40 40 40 Pollen Sour c e Based on pollen and honey results, the 2 Pseudopanax arboreus Five-finger 35 35 35

best plant species that are high 3 Vitex lucens Pūriri 20 20 20 20 20 1 performance pollen and nectar producers 4 Hebe stricta Koromiko 100 100 100 100 can be propagated and planted out. 5 Coprosma robusta Karangū 100 100 6 Pseudopanax lessonii Houpara 30 30 30 An interim guide for May planting was 7 Hoheria populnea Houhere 40 40 40 40 Planting out at created for plants donated by Native 8 Hoheria sexstylosa Houhere 40 40 40 40 Rangitukia, May 2016 Garden Nursery of Gisborne. TOTAL (not including target crop) 135 155 255 220 160 40 70 30 30 80 80 81 2

NAATI BEEZ: SPONSORS:

Sustainable Farming Fund Willie Kaa Rangi Raroa Rapata Kaa Maia Taaremaia GNS Science