Creating a buzz: Glendene, Auckland
Ellen Parker admits she used to shun insects.
But now she is the confident custodian of thousands of bees.
"Normally I'm not really a fan of insects and flying things," said Parker, a medical receptionist.
"But when I started to learn more, I realised they're not out to sting you. They're out there doing their own thing and they're pretty tame."
The Glendene resident and partner Alexander Jones have drawn a flock of followers to their Instagram page @verygoodbeeco, which documents their beekeeping journey.
The 28-year-olds bought their first hive in November 2019 after delving into a beekeeping experience course in Matakana.
"We really enjoyed it and decided to take the plunge," Jones said.
The fact that the entire hive can function as one brain is incredible, he said.
"... bees are essential parts of the life cycle of many plants and therefore life on earth, so being able to contribute to that definitely provides a bit of a feel-good aspect to it."
The keen apiarists last week spent an hour watching the bees from a beanbag fronting the hive.
"It's strangely therapeutic," Jones said.
A fascination with flying is echoed in the West Auckland couple's careers.
Jones is an aircraft technician and Parker, a former flight attendant.
The goal is to keep the operation small.
"For us on a hobby scale and the way we've established our hive, we're not thrashing the bees to get every drop of honey out of them like on a commercial scale," Jones said.
Any honey and wax produced by their bees is purely a bonus, he said.
The couple has found it rewarding to turn the products into beard wax, a honey and sugar scrub and beeswax food wraps.
Jones and Parker have been flooded with orders for Christmas presents.
"We give our neighbours honey and stuff to say thanks for putting up with us," Jones said.
He confesses there have been days when he questioned if beekeeping was a good idea.
When the honey farmers first brought the hive home, they made the mistake of inspecting it on a cloudy day when most occupants were home.
The bees grew angry and launched a stinging attack on their new owners.
"They were bouncing off our suits," Parker said.
"You think of bees, which are focused on foraging, being stuck at home when someone comes lifts the roof off their house and starts shaking it around," Jones said.
"They'd prefer it to happen while they're away at work."
The budding apiculturists have to inspect the bees for signs of infestations, mites and wax moths.
Jones said they are battling their way through swarm season- the bees' natural instinct to propagate when flowers and bees start to wake from a long winter.
The apiculturists have learned the hard way that swarm prevention is critical at this time of year.
This can be done by giving hives enough space, splitting a hive to almost simulate a swarm and to prevent them raising a new queen, he said.
"We were a bit slow to read the signs and a couple of days before we planned to split our hive (to prevent a swarm), our hive swarmed into the neighbour's tree," Jones said.
"We then managed to find the swarming queen and return her to a spare hive we had ready for the split."
The honey farmers carried out the hive split and the bees returned to their hives an hour later.
"We were pretty embarrassed and stressed by the whole thing, but it has offered us plenty of learning and lessons for the rest of the season and onto the next," Jones said.
Nature has taken its course and a new queen has hatched in the new hive.
Jones said that out of respect to their neighbours, the couple will give the hive to interested friends.
"We'd love to manage a hive for them to see if they want to take the hobby up themselves."
"The original hive seems to be behaving again and has started their honey production."
Poll: Is it ok to regift something that you have been given?
🎁 Holiday Gift Chat!
Do you ever regift?
What’s your take on asking for a receipt if a gift doesn’t fit?
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79.9% Yes! It's better to regift what I don't need
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20.1% No. It's the thought and effort that matters
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Meri Kirihimete:----- Here's wishing all Christians a very MERRY CHRISTMAS
Wishing you a Christmas filled with light, laughter, and the kind of friendly conversation that makes our neighborhood feel welcoming, connected, and full of goodwill all season long.
May your festive season be peaceful, joyful, and rich with shared smiles, thoughtful gestures, and moments that remind us why community and connection matter so much.
Sending heartfelt greetings that celebrate the warmth of our neighborhood, encouraging shared laughter, cooperative spirit, and the joy of being part of a caring community.
Wishing you a Christmas where every door opened brings laughter, every conversation inspires friendship, and every small act of kindness reflects the true meaning of the season.
May this holiday season fill our neighborhood with light, love, and harmony, creating memories that bring everyone closer and strengthen bonds that last well beyond the festive period.
Sending greetings that reflect gratitude for your presence, friendship, and the support you offer, making our corner of New Zealand feel like home during Christmas.
Wishing you a festive season full of community celebrations, cheerful greetings, and shared moments that strengthen the connection we enjoy as neighbors.
May our streets be brighter with laughter, our gardens warmer with friendship, and our gatherings filled with memorable festive moments that bring joy to every household.
Sending heartfelt wishes that even in the busiest moments, we pause to appreciate one another, fostering goodwill, understanding, and a sense of shared joy during the holidays.
Wishing you Christmas mornings full of cheerful greetings, afternoons filled with kind interactions, and evenings that reflect the harmony and warmth of our neighborhood
May the spirit of Christmas inspire generosity, smiles, and memorable connections that remind us of the true value of community and companionship.
Sending you long, thoughtful messages of gratitude and goodwill, wishing every festive activity brings happiness and shared enjoyment.
Wishing for moments of neighborly cooperation, laughter, and support that enhance our holiday celebrations and create lasting festive memories.
May this season bring a sense of belonging, connection, and appreciation for every individual who contributes to the vibrancy and warmth of our neighborhood.
Sending wishes for shared joy, memorable interactions, and meaningful moments that make our community stronger and more cheerful this Christmas.
Wishing you celebrations where everyone feels valued, appreciated, and included, reflecting the essence of kindness and togetherness this festive season.
May our neighborhood be a space of warmth, smiles, and shared experiences that elevate the Christmas spirit for everyone living here.
Sending greetings that celebrate friendship, community spirit, and thoughtful gestures, leaving lasting impressions on every neighbor we encounter.
Wishing you holidays where communication, kindness, and shared laughter make our community stronger and more connected than ever.
May every Christmas greeting, conversation, and shared moment enrich our neighborhood, fostering joy, trust, and long-lasting relationships.
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