8 reasons to start beekeeping
1. Honey: Honey is sweet and delicious, and raw honey contains powerful antioxidants, vitamins and enzymes.
2. Pollination: Flowers, fruit trees, and crops in your neighborhood won’t grow without pollination, so help them thrive by providing natural pollinators.
3. Learning Experience: Many things can be learned from bees, and observing the bees comb building, honey making, or egg laying can be fascinating.
4. Inexpensive Hobby: Once you’ve spent the initial investment on beekeeping materials and protective clothing, all that’s needed is your time.
5. Help Stop Colony Collapse Disorder: Due to the effects of colony collapse disorder (CCD), bees are disappearing. So raising bees and nurturing them helps to increase their numbers.
6. Stress Relief: Watching your bees’ activities or working with them can help you keep focused and your mind off other things.
7. Beeswax: Beeswax is a by-product of hives and makes great candles, lip balm, wood polish, and more.
8. Health: Honey has antiseptic and antibacterial properties and the acidity in honey keeps bacteria from growing.
To find out more, or to start beekeeping click here.
Poll: Should the government levy industries that contribute to financial hardship?
As reported in the Post, there’s a $30 million funding gap in financial mentoring. This has led to services closing and mentors stepping in unpaid just to keep helping people in need 🪙💰🪙
One proposed solution? Small levies on industries that profit from financial hardship — like banks, casinos, and similar companies.
So we want to hear what you think:
Should the government ask these industries to contribute?
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59.5% Yes, supporting people is important!
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26.1% No, individuals should take responsibility
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14.4% ... It is complicated
Brain Teaser of the Day 🧠✨ Can You Solve It? 🤔💬
Make a hearty dish. Take just half a minute. Add four parts of kestrel. Then just add one. What have you made?
(Trev from Silverdale kindly provided this head-scratcher ... thanks, Trev!)
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm on the day!
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Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
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