There are at least 200 beehives on Wanganui city sections, and beekeepers would like it to stay that way.
The city's District Plan says beehives are not allowed within the city boundary unless they have resource consent. Mayor Annette Main, speaking at the National Apiculture Industry Conference last month, said that was a big imposition.
She wants changes made, as part of the district plan review process. "Wanganui is very proud of its gardens, but without bees we have nothing," she said in her speech.
Beekeepers have made submissions about allowing hives within the city, and will meet the mayor and council officers next week to talk about it.
Beekeeper Neil Farrer will be there, and said hives in the city were not a problem unless people got uptight about them or they played a part in personality clashes. Mostly people didn't know the hives were there.