The Bees Knees: First New Zealander appointed to take Oceania Commission role at Apimondia

Maureen Maxwell has been appointed regional president for the Oceania Commission of Apimondia, the Rome-based international federation of beekeeping associations.

"We are highly regarded as a nation when it comes to beekeeping and punch well above our weight. It's my intention to be the voice of the Oceania region and specifically create more awareness about beekeeping because it has the potential to be New Zealand's next industry darling," says Ms Maxwell.

Reporting to the international president, Gilles Ratia, Ms Maxwell will play her part in assisting beekeepers in the region by facilitating the exchange of information via congresses and symposia where beekeepers, scientist, honey-traders, technicians and legislators meet to listen, discuss and learn.

Ms Maxwell has had a long association with the food and wine industry in New Zealand, being one of the founders of Matua Valley Wines, The Hunting Lodge Restaurant and more recently BeesOnline. A highly regarded chef and sommelier, she is an award-winning restaurateur. Ms Maxwell has been on the Executive of the National Beekeepers’ Association for five years and a member of the Sustainable Business Network and the NZ Guild of Food Writers. By combining her culinary skills with beekeeping, she developed an award-winning range of organic honeys and honey products which are available throughout New Zealand and marketed internationally.

Drawing on her previous experience, Ms Maxwell will bring a valuable commercial perspective to the role.

"While other board members come from a science and technical background, I think I can bring a real difference from an entrepreneurial and marketing perspective,” she says.

"It's a real honour to be a part of this group and it's even more special being the first Kiwi to do it."

A fervent advocate for beekeeping and the honey industry, Ms Maxwell sees honey as New Zealand’s next big thing from an export point of view. She is passionate about the role of beekeeping in our primary sector and the need to safeguard its future.

"Beekeeping plays a crucial role in primary production in New Zealand – not just in the production of honey and propolis, but in pollination of our horticultural crops. Bees are under the global threat of rapidly declining numbers through Varroa, pesticides, disease, loss of habitat, forage and fodder,” she warns.

Bee friendly planting is the focus of her efforts through her company, Wild Forage. In collaboration with Wildflowerworld.com, Ms Maxwell has developed a wildflower seed rescue remedy for bees which provides a lifesaving source of nectar and pollen. All proceeds from the sale of these seeds go to the national Beekeepers’ Association of NZ to help New Zealand bees.

Ms Maxwell takes up her role with Apimondia effective immediately.

About Apimondia
Apimondia is the International Federation of Beekeepers’ Associations and other organisations working within the apiculture sector. The Federation was founded by resolutions passed at the XIII International Apicultural Congress of 1949 in Amsterdam and is the successor to the International Apiarist Congress Secretariat founded in 1895.

Apimondia exists to promote scientific, technical, ecological, social and economic apicultural development in all countries.