How to catch 9000 bees

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Ken Brown is president of the Auckland Beekeepers Association. When I greet him at our West Auckland meeting spot, he warns me his silver people-mover might smell of smoke, a tool…

Ken Brown is president of the Auckland Beekeepers Association. When I greet him at our West Auckland meeting spot, he warns me his silver people-mover might smell of smoke, a tool beekeepers use to calm the insects.

Inside the vehicle, there's just two front seats - the rest is a special set-up for transporting bees. There are boxes, bee suits, special brushes, and of course, a beekeeper smoke can.

Brown says the swarm we're heading to was reported last night. It came through the Auckland Beekeepers' Association WhatsApp chat. The 50-strong group receives reports of swarms from members of the public and authorities, and then farm them out via that chat to be dealt with.

Auckland's mild winter meant bees remained active when they would normally hibernate. That has resulted in colonies getting bigger and then splitting when they get too big. Swarms of bees occur when the part of the colony that is separated is looking for a new home, he says.

"It is a natural process, but as beekeepers we try to avoid it because it can cause a nuisance to the general public.

For the group, it has meant managing up to 10 reports day, twice the number of swarm collections they would normally attend during spring.

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We drive about 10 minutes from Kumeu's main street to reach the swarm Brown and I are tasked with moving.

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