Northland man on trial for stealing beehives

Justin Howes is accused of stealing beehives and shipping containers. Photo/John Stone

A former bee company employee has been accused of stealing three shipping containers that housed beehives and beekeeping equipment.

Justin Mathew Howes, of Titoki, is appearing in a judge-alone trial in the Whangarei District Court accused of making a false statement, two charges of loss by deception and four charges of theft of beehives.

Sam Kim, owner of New Zealand Queen Bee in Auckland, gave evidence this week that his company bought 166 hives from Howes in December 2014.

About a month later NZ Queen Bee employed Howes, 25, to manage the beehives in Northland and Auckland and to look for new sites.

Police allege that between June and October last year, Howes stole two 6m containers that had beehives, boxes, bases, frames and other beekeeping equipment.

The items, worth $46,000, belonged to NZ Queen Bee.

In September last year, Howes allegedly stole a 6m shipping container valued at $2645, also belonging to NZ Queen Bee.

Three other charges were laid earlier - breaching the Animal Products Act by falsifying an apiarist and beekeeper statement and two charges of theft of beehives.

Mr Kim said Howes' employment ended in August 2015 when Mr Kim went to move his hives but they were missing.

He said Howes did not respond to three emails he sent wanting to discuss the missing hives.

Mr Kim said he paid $8797 on January 11, 2015, for three shipping containers from a company Howes recommended.

The containers were to be used to store equipment at the back of NZ Queen Bee.

But Mr Kim said the containers were found at Howes' mother's house in Titoki.

Mr Kim said when he entered the property where he discovered the containers, Howes told him to leave.

Howes was not allowed to move the shipping containers without permission, Mr Kim said.

He later found 44 missing hives at multiple locations, including 20 at a Waipu Cove Rd site.

The trial continues before a judge.