National Bee Week

Bee Week takes flight... again

This year’s Bee Week (30 May – 03 June 2011) was a huge success. We generated massive publicity in all major media, securing coverage in 20 radio and television broadcasts, 17 internet postings and 157 press clippings. We more than doubled the coverage received for Bee Week last year. This is a great achievement and a true acknowledgement that Bee Week is continuing to generate media interest throughout New Zealand. Kiwi’s just can’t get enough of the humble honey bee!

Based on accepted advertising industry evaluation criteria this kind of publicity is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars of advertising.

However, Bee Week did not just revolve around media clippings. The colouring-in competition was a hit yet again. We received over 200 entries. Plus, the Word Puzzle and Bee Facts Kit were updated and sent out to schools across the country.

Branches and clubs got involved and visited local schools in their area, teaching them about the importance of the honey bee and its value to New Zealand.

‘Be good to bees because…’ posters were sent out to all NBA branches. Various shops around the country placed the posters in their windows. Honeymeisters in Wellington had ‘Beenut’ (giant bee costume) walking the streets, handing out samples and delivering the message about bee-friendly seeds and why we need to plant now for pollinators.

Regional and district councils were invited to take part this year. Hamilton City Council invited Jane Lorimer to speak at their pest management meeting. In addition, various councils expressed their interest in planting bee-friendly seeds in public gardens.

The Wellington Botanical Gardens hung posters and educational information in their famous tree house learning centre. Various libraries across the country celebrated Bee Week by building stands dedicated to the cause.

Thanks to Maureen Maxwell, bee-friendly wildflower seed packets were developed and sold with all profits going to the NBA to help further NZ bees.

In addition, we have worked closely with the maker of the Buzzy Bee toy, Urban Licensing, to develop a partnership where a percentage of the wooden Buzzy Bee toy sales go to the NBA. At present, Urban Licensing is printing our logo on their product range. These bees should hit shelves in October and will start generating an extra stream of income for the Association. Thank you, Urban Licensing and Buzzy Bee!

Thank you to all those who got involved.

Bee Week has proven that New Zealanders and the media are interested in what the Association and its representatives have to say about a wide variety of issues relevant to bees. The amazing amount of coverage received shows just how much profile the NBA, and the industry, has.

The more people we educate, the more we can make a difference for the good of the industry.

Thank you to everyone who provided product for giveaways – Apicare, Arataki, Mossop’s, J. Friend & Co, Burt’s Bees, Raymond Huber, Buzzy Bee, Steens, and Palmers. We had a great response from newspapers and websites running the colouring-in competition and giveaways: