New Zealand Beekeeping HistoryMarketing, people and beekeeping politics…

1900-1909

1909

Mr Isaac Hopkins left the Department of Agriculture in June 1909, but was asked to stay on to continue to do his work.

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1908

Mr WB Bray was appointed to the position of inspector under the Act for the whole of the South Island in January 1908.  There is a widely-told story with the industry that he was issued with a bicycle and a rail pass to carry out his travels.  A contemporary photo makes it more likely it […]

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1907

While there were few fully commercial apiarists in New Zealand, one unnamed beekeeper did produce a crop of 32 tons in 1907, according to Mr R Gibb when opening the 1930 NBA Conference. Mr I Hopkins persuaded the Minister to introduce a new Apiaries Act in 1907 to replace the 1906 Act which had been […]

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1906

The first honey house at the Ruakura Farm of Instruction was built in 1906 at a cost of £45. Miss Lena Livesay, assistant to Mr I Hopkins, commenced duties as manageress of the Ruakura apiary in January. Mr Seddon decided to foster small holdings production in 1906 with the passing of the first Apiaries Act. […]

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1905

In June, Mr Isaac Hopkins, recently appointed apiarist to the Department of Agriculture, established an apiary at the Ruakura Farm of Instruction, near Hamilton. Though there had been some hives there in 1904 and in 1905 in both instances they had been destroyed by foulbrood.

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