Beehives can be kept in the city. However, if the bees are causing a nuisance or are considered dangerous to someone's health, then we may ask the owner to relocate the hive on their property or remove it entirely.
Honeybees are not naturally aggressive and if left to go about their business should not be a danger or threat to neighbours. If you wish to keep bees please consider the impact it may have on your neighbour when locating your hives. Bees defecate as they leave the hive and this can cause an unsightly mess on neighbours washing, windows or vehicles.
Bees in a garden could have come from hives within a three kilometre radius, so removing a hive from a neighbour’s property will not necessarily mean that the bee numbers in the garden will go down. If there are flowers that are attracting bees, they can come from anywhere.
Honeybees help pollinate all sorts of fruit and vegetables and are responsible for around one third of the food we eat each day. They are renowned for their role in providing beneficial products related to healthcare including honey, propolis and bees wax. They are an important part of our ecosystem.
Visit Bay of Plenty Bee for information on beekeepers in your area and for swarm removal/collection services.
If you are requesting to remove a swam, a beekeeper will want to know:
- When the swarm arrived.
- How big the swarm is – i.e. soccer ball size.
- Where it is – i.e. on a fence, up a tree, etc.
The law
The government requires anyone wanting to keep a beehive to register themselves and each beehive with Asure Quality on freephone 0508 00 11 22. Visit Bay of Plenty Bee for more information.