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

$34.95 / year

A full year of Pro, tuned to their region.

Gift annual →

Lifetime

$99 once

Founders price — rising to $129

Pro forever, the gift that keeps growing.

Gift lifetime →

The app is coming soon to New Zealand, so gift purchases open alongside launch. Join the waitlist to be first to gift one, and explore the free website tools in the meantime. For full details see pricing.