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: Do you think banning gang patches is reasonable?
With the government cracking down on gangs, it is now illegal for gang members to display their insignia in public places whether through clothing or their property.
This means arrests can be made if these patches are worn in places like restaurants, shops, on public transport or ferries, and on airplanes. Arrests were made recently at a funeral.
Do you think this ban is reasonable?
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76.4% Yes
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22.3% No
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1.3% Other - I'll share below
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
Poll: Should all neighbours have to contribute to improvements?
An Auckland court has ruled a woman doesn’t have to contribute towards the cost of fixing a driveway she shares with 10 neighbours.
When thinking about fences, driveways or tree felling, for example, do you think all neighbours should have to pay if the improvements directly benefit them?
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82.1% Yes
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15.2% No
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2.7% Other - I'll share below