New Zealand Certificate in Primary Industry Skills (Level 2) - Apiculture

NMIT is part of Te Pūkenga

This means that you will now graduate with a Te Pūkenga qualification. Read more
Locations and dates

Marlborough:

30 September 2024

Richmond:

30 September 2024
Study options

Full-time and part-time
Total credits

40
Fees

Zero fees

A Compulsory Student Services Levy applies ($2 per credit).

Fees listed are for each year of the programme, indicative only and may vary with course selection.

View course details for individual fees.
National qualification code

NZ2218

Feel the buzz and kick-start your career in the apiculture industry today by learning a range of work-ready skills.

dionLarge Full Width 2235x1490px copy 2 — Apiculture tutor Dion Mundy stands next to the beehives at the Marlborough Campus.

Ease into the basics of this beekeeping programme, designed for backyard beekeepers or anyone curious about the industry and keen to gain useful general knowledge.

In just six months, you'll learn the basics of beekeeping and build two hives, all in time to extract your honey in February. We'll even supply you with the materials for your first beehive.

By having two hives, you can use one to help support the other if a hive is weakened by disease, limited food sources or other issues. Don't worry, we'll teach you all about hive health too.

Dion Mundy, apiculture tutor at NMIT in Marlborough, says,

“The programme is designed to be fun, engaging and a great introduction to the world of beekeeping. If you’re interested in beekeeping, then join the Marlborough Beekeeper’s Association(external link), get a mentor and sign up to study."

You will learn 16 practical apiculture production tasks, including:

Safe handling of bees
Assessing beehive health and placement
Bee biology
Opening and closing hives
Horticulture and tool maintenance
Machinery use around beehives
Honey extraction (using campus facilities)
The legal requirements for owning bees and producing honey

This is the ideal pathway into the New Zealand Certificate in Apiculture, Level 3(external link), to become an assistant beekeeper and to support you in completing an American Foulbrood (AFB)(external link) course.

Programme delivery

Delivery

This programme is easy to fit around work and life with an on-campus workshop every second Saturday, and an hour's online class/meeting on alternative weekends.

The programme breaks from 16 December to 13 January for a summer break.

Practical hours

The hours you might practise the skills you are learning could be while working with a beekeeper, volunteering to weed and plant bee-attracting plants or sharpening tools for friends and neighbours. All hours spent practising the skills count.

During this programme, you should log approximately 5 hours per week of practical work over 26 weeks (120 hours).

Assessments

During this programme, you will be introduced to 16 practical production tasks. To pass the programme, you must document and take photos of at least seven of the 16 practical production tasks with a sign-off from your tutor.

Additional costs

You will need to purchase

your own Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) which includes a beekeeping suit (overalls and veil), gloves, smoker, and hive tool (approximately $250)
a nucleus of four frames of bees, honey, and a queen bee (approximately $250)
the woodware for your second beehive

It is preferable that you wear steel-capped boots or gumboots.