The droppings of the humble honey bee are causing a stink in Maunu, with a beekeeper worried he will have to remove his hives because nearby residents don't like the bees pooping on their property.
Apiarist Barry Bradley fears he will have to remove the 20 hives on land at thebottom of Kotuku St, Maunu, because of complaints about the bees' excrement landing on clothes, vehicles and windows of houses in the street.
"It's just bee poo, it's not toxic or dangerous and it's generally only during the warmer months," Mr Bradley said.
Several nearby residents have made a number of complaints to Whangarei District Council over the bee poo and the council is trying to negotiate a solution.
One Kotuku St resident who has made several of the complaints declined to comment on the issue.
Mr Bradley said with bees at crisis point internationally, and a risk of the highly infectious colony collapse arriving in New Zealand, it was vital that bees remained at the site as these were used to train people in correct beekeeping methods.
"It's a bit silly really that we may have to move them because of a bit of bee poo. Bees are vital to virtually all plants and people complaining about them would probably be the first to complain if their flowers or fruit trees didn't pollinate because there were no bees around," he said.
Mr Bradley said the property at the end of Kotuku St was ideal for having hives to train people how to handle bees because there was so much bush around.
"Most houses are about 100 metres away and it seems a shame that a few people can stop the pleasure of all those who we train," he said.
"The bees are here for the greater good and given that they are so at risk it's even more important that we teach more people how to keep them properly.
"It seems strange that at a time when the rest of the world is wanting to save their bees we are being told to move ours because of a bit of poo."
