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The Government today announced members of a board that will investigate a strategy to manage the varroa bee mite.
Biosecurity Minister Jim Sutton said last month that a board of inquiry would be held on a proposed varroa national pest management strategy, due to lack of agreement among South Island beekeepers
on the proposal's contents.
Mr Sutton said today that the three board members had a mix of public policy, technical and epidemiological skills as well as knowledge of the bee industry and pastoral sector.
The board members are Denise Church, Brian Mason and Helen Benard.
Ms Church is a former chief executive of the Ministry for the Environment.
Mr Mason is a veterinarian with 40 years experience, a Southland farmer and an Environment Southland councillor.
Ms Benard is an epidemiologist with varroa experience due to her previous role as an exotic disease investigator.
The board of inquiry will hold hearings and review the proposed strategy and submissions made on it, before providing Mr Sutton with recommendations.
It will hold several public hearings in Wellington and around the South Island in late May and early June.
People who made submissions on the proposal will be invited to speak and called evidence.
The public will be allowed to observe the hearings.
- NZPA
