Leading beekeepers are trying fire power and an unofficial amnesty to try to stop the American foulbrood outbreak threatening orchards and other crops in Hawke's Bay.
A "Bring and Burn" day will be held at Arataki Honey on Saturday to not only destroy old beekeeping equipment, which may cause ongoing infection, but also to counter what some see as a lack of action from the top in helping get rid of the problem.
Following a major outbreak of the disease in the Waiohiki and Taradale area, the Hawke's Bay branch of the National Beekeepers Association wants all beekeepers who have old and possibly infected equipment, whether registered or not, to take it to the Bring and Burn day for destruction.
Branch spokesman John Berry, of Havelock North, said over 60 hives had already burned in Hawke's Bay this spring, and of 40 identified as infected recently, 36 had been in the Waiohiki and Taradale area. "It's pretty severe with apple pollination coming up within a few days."
With the hives needing to be destroyed and other beekeepers not keen to put hives into the area for fear of infection there were potential big ramifications for orchardist and the crop, he said.