NZ Manuka Honey Company looking for Bee Keepers Urgently

[EgmontHoney]

Hi there, and greetings from New Zealand.

We're after a couple of hardworking, Experienced Bee Keepers for our Family Run Manuka Honey company, based in Taranaki, New Zealand. We own and manage around 4,000 hives, with an unwavering focus on sustainability, quality and bee health.

We've got some people over in the UK for the next 3 days, and would urgently like to hear from anyone who's interested in seasonal work, or a full time job.

Please get in touch ASAP if interested!

 

[Ian123]

Hi I also suggest you email the bee farmers association. Pop that into google and you will get straight there ....Good luck

 

[Tony19]

Sent a PM

 

[citrus]

actually just back from NZ on a family holiday but interested in the post

in my 50's and looking to retire in 7 years or so (work in a data consultancy at the mo) ......done a few seasons and work with a guy with 50 hives and have a few of my own ... and hoping by the time I was looking to go I'd be a bit wiser

anyway assuming the manuka bubble doesnt burst ...:-

is there seasonal work for hobby beekeepers like me ? (fit n keen)
if so anyone on here done this and got any feedback ?

 

[foghornleghorn]

actually just back from NZ on a family holiday but interested in the post

in my 50's and looking to retire in 7 years or so (work in a data consultancy at the mo) ......done a few seasons and work with a guy with 50 hives and have a few of my own ... and hoping by the time I was looking to go I'd be a bit wiser

anyway assuming the manuka bubble doesnt burst ...:-

is there seasonal work for hobby beekeepers like me ? (fit n keen)
if so anyone on here done this and got any feedback ?

You probably wouldn't want the work with a proper commercial outfit, that's assuming you could actually get a visa to work

 

[Pete D]

The advert is 6 months old

 

[citrus]

The advert is 6 months old

Sure but I wasnt interested 6months ago

...point remains ... anyone actually done this and got any feedback ?

 

[foghornleghorn]

Sure but I wasnt interested 6months ago

...point remains ... anyone actually done this and got any feedback ?

You'd be much better off to go on a holiday and try and line up a few beekeepers to visit

 

[citrus]

You'd be much better off to go on a holiday and try and line up a few beekeepers to visit

To be honest just had a lovely 10 days in a campervan over there on holiday but was too busy singing lord of the rings and looking at the countryside to meet up with anyone .. saw a few boxes and then started idly thinking about a dream retirement gig

but you are quite right ... probably long hours, **** money and I am old and wouldnt get a visa anyway ....

 

[Into the lions den]

Money is not great...but not rubbish either.

However the work is physically intense and the beekeeping generally pretty low tech. Have had number of former NZ beeks here, mostly seasonally...and their basic knowledge is often pretty limited. The main thing is they are used to HEAVY work, done at pace.

A few established UK guys have gone out there for a winters work during hard times here, and they found it gruelling and some just gave up and came home.

On the other hand I know of some who have loved it.

The price levels of Manuka are declining right now and some units are having a tough time as they reset their cost bases too high, others still doing nicely, and the level of hives per person that were the norm in NZ are often a lot lower now, so perhaps if you find the right unit to go to it would still be a great experience.

However, someone raised the issue of a work visa......I think it works both ways actually....same cut off age for them coming here too.....I think its 30.

 

[citrus]

Money is not great...but not rubbish either.

However, someone raised the issue of a work visa......I think it works both ways actually....same cut off age for them coming here too.....I think its 30.

Cool thanks for this ... so gonna be too old for that ... regardless of how much crossfit I do between now and retirement !

 

[For want of a better word]

Cool thanks for this ... so gonna be too old for that ... regardless of how much crossfit I do between now and retirement !

You could go and work for one of the London Brewers..... hard work... long hours... basic pay... but a free pint after every shift... two if you do a double. And you do not need a work permit or travel half way around the world to do it!
Not quite do romantic tho!!!



Yeghes da

 

[Repwoc]

Cool thanks for this ... so gonna be too old for that ... regardless of how much crossfit I do between now and retirement !

We know a couple, both teachers, that applied to emigrate to NZ this year. They said that beekeeping was one of the top occupations on the required list (and it wasn't sorted alphabetically). So you never know - if the demand is high enough they may just bite.

 

[Swarm]

Cut off is 40.

 

[Repwoc]

Cut off is 40.

Or 55 https://www.emigrationgroup.com/new-zealand-visas/skilled-visas

Or "not always important" https://www.emigrationgroup.com/new-zealand-visas/working-visas

 

[Goran]

Relatively recently I spoke with one beek from NZ, for this season is mostly late to go there now. Other thing, for me it is longer process to get all docs and preconditions and paying for applying, paying for visa, paying for plane, paying for... and to go only for a season.. In a moment it looked to me like I am joining some cult, not to go there and work.. Avg as said for decent beek 24nzd/hour..
At moment got me thinking, but for now too " complicado"..

 

[Griffo]

There was a presentation at our BKA meeting sometime last year about beekeeping in NZ. I remember being quite disgusted at the handling methods involved with moving their hives around the country to take advantage of the different cropping times. The bees were treated purely as a commodity with not much respect to say the very least.

 

[Eyeman]

There was a presentation at our BKA meeting sometime last year about beekeeping in NZ. I remember being quite disgusted at the handling methods involved with moving their hives around the country to take advantage of the different cropping times. The bees were treated purely as a commodity with not much respect to say the very least.

Valuable commodities deserve looking after otherwise they soon lose their value. Bees can be managed in a variety of ways. What made you think they were not being 'respected'?

 

[Swarm]

Or 55 https://www.emigrationgroup.com/new-zealand-visas/skilled-visas

Or "not always important" https://www.emigrationgroup.com/new-zealand-visas/working-visas

Best way is to apply and find out, my son in law had to get his sorted before his 40th.

 

[Goran]

There was a presentation at our BKA meeting sometime last year about beekeeping in NZ. I remember being quite disgusted at the handling methods involved with moving their hives around the country to take advantage of the different cropping times. The bees were treated purely as a commodity with not much respect to say the very least.

Isn't that called migratory beekeeping..? I personally know beeks which go at 5 big forages in a season and still their colonies are " thunderstruck" in spring next season. Especially when at three last forages in season is abundance of pollen.. The colonies which go in migration have to be top, otherwise it is more problem than profit. I even help them in migration couple times.
I know a lot of stationary apiaries.. which politely said are sad to watch..
I have stationary apiaries but understand and approve migration for the people who live of it.