September is Bee Awareness month. This an annual education campaign, run by Apiculture New Zealand, is all about sharing with New Zealanders some basic things everyone can do to help improve bee health. The goal is to encourage Kiwis to plant more trees for bees, to use garden sprays safely, or not at all, and to buy local honey.

Apiculture New Zealand has been running events and competitions for Bee Aware Month for many years, find out more here.

Bees in a hive, including one Bee with pollen baskets.
Rights: The University of Waikato Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato

Bee with pollen baskets

The bee in the middle of the picture has two full pollen baskets on its back legs. It is bringing protein-rich pollen to the hive to feed the larvae inside.

There are events being run around the country. Contact us if you have a Bee Aware event to add to the list below.

Honey bee presentation

7 September, 9am–1pm

Where: Palmers Garden Centre, Rotorua (147 Sala Street, Whakarewarewa)

Cost: Free

The Rotorua Honeybee Club will be in store at Palmers Garden Centre, Rotorua. Come and meet the beekeepers, learn about the bees and what we do.

One day bee keeping course

14 September, 9am–3pm

The Christchurch Beekeepers Club are running a 1-day Beginners Beekeeping course.

For more information: https://chchbeekeepers.org.nz/events

Bee Awareness Month Walk – The Secret Life of Honey Bees

24 September, 11am–12pm

Where: Wellington Botanic Garden, 101 Glenmore St, Kelburn, Wellington

We rely on bees to pollinate many of our food and fodder plants, as well as our ornamental garden plants. On this walk, we will discuss the skills, hidden talents, and life cycles of bees, observe them at work among the flowers, and their coming and going at their hives.

Meet at the Herb Garden Lookout for this easy 60-minute walk. Cost: $5 (cash only, please).

For more information: www.eventfinda.co.nz/2024/bee-awareness-month-walk-the-secret-life-of-honey-bees/wellington

Honey bee with its head into a pink flower.
Rights: Neville Gardner

Honey bee on flower

This honey bee has pushed its head into a flower to search for nectar. Pollen from the stamens will rub off on its body and get carried to another flower.

Related content

Scroll through the bees or pollination topics for articles, activities and multimedia.

Honey bee heroes is a comprehensive article about honey bee adaptations and behaviours and some of the threats they face.

Learn more about honey bees with the Connected journal articles in The Buzz of Bees.

Learn about these bee pests and the fight to protect bees:

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