Do I need much space for a hive?

No. A single hive needs only about a square metre of ground plus a clear flight path. Plenty of urban sections in New Zealand run a hive or two without issue, as long as the entrance faces away from neighbours and there is a barrier to lift the bees up over fence height.

Is it expensive to start?

Budget a few hundred dollars for a hive, a suit, basic tools and a smoker, plus the cost of a nucleus colony of bees. Registration itself is free. The ongoing costs are varroa treatments and the annual American foulbrood levy, both of which are modest for a single hive.

Can I keep bees if I am away during the week?

Yes, as long as you can reliably check and treat the hive on a regular cycle. Bees do not need daily attention, but varroa monitoring and disease inspection cannot be skipped, so you need to commit to a routine through the warmer months.

Gift a Planting Season Subscription

Know someone in New Zealand who is into their garden, or wants to be? A Planting Season subscription gives them a planting calendar tuned to their region, the garden planner, flock tracker and the whole toolkit. All prices are in New Zealand dollars.

Annual

$44.95 / year

A full year of Pro, tuned to their region.

Gift annual →

Lifetime

$129 once

Founders price, rising to $159

Pro forever, the gift that keeps growing.

Gift lifetime →

The app is live in New Zealand, so a gift can be used the day it arrives. Explore the free website tools as well, and see pricing for full details.