AFB Levy 2026/27
American Foulbrood (AFB)
2026/27 levy consultation
Supporting beekeepers with AFB elimination and seeking your input on the AFB levy for 2026/27.
New Zealand Bee Health & Biosecurity (NZBB), formerly The AFB Management Agency, is undertaking consultation with Aotearoa New Zealand beekeepers on a proposal for the American Foulbrood Beekeeper Levy for 2026/27 to remain the same at $40 per beekeeper and $1.95 per colony.
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Timeline of the
AFB NPMP Review
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CONTRACT_EDIT
Start your levy consultation submission
Surveymonkey east
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American Foulbrood (AFB) is the most serious disease affecting honey bees in Aotearoa. The disease is present in almost all countries where honey bees are found. AFB was recorded in New Zealand in 1877 and is a biosecurity threat, despite being subject to legislative control in New Zealand since 1906 and a national pest management plan (AFB NPMP) since 1998. All NZ beekeepers have legal obligations under the AFB NPMP and are responsible for the elimination of AFB from their beekeeping operations.
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The administration and implementation of the AFB NPMP is funded solely through the Biosecurity (American Foulbrood - Beekeeper Levy) Order 2003 which is payable by New Zealand beekeepers, prior to the start of the new levy year (1 June). NZBB does not receive any other funding to administer the AFB NPMP.
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After a three-year review, the new AFB NPMP is set to be approved by the Minister for Biosecurity and Cabinet and implemented from April 2026 onward.
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Industry engagement forums over recent months have confirmed a need for greater focus on bee health and biosecurity. NZBB is well-placed to map out and facilitate biosecurity preparedness, subject to support from beekeepers. This would include a separate funding mechanism and approval from the Minister for Biosecurity.
NZBB’s current mandate and levy funds are restricted to AFB elimination. In addition to the proposed 2026/27 levy rate and budget, NZBB has included three supplementary questions within this 2026/27 levy consultation round to sense-check the industry’s appetite for biosecurity preparedness.
CLICK HERE to find out more about bee biosecurity and preparedness.
This is the first of several rounds of consultation with the sector on the merits of gradually expanding NZBB’s scope to general honey bee health and disease management. Please take the time to respond to the three additional questions in an open manner. Your feedback is important in determining NZBB’s next steps.
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Between June 2024 and May 2025, beekeeper numbers and colony numbers fell 8.4% and 6.6%, respectively.
In setting the proposed 2026/27 levy, NZBB has taken the following into consideration.
The forecast decline in the number of registered beekeepers and colonies over the next 12 months.
The current challenging economic climate.
The resulting financial hardship experienced by many beekeepers.
NZBB’s key focus areas to support the industry in the implementation of the new AFB NPMP.
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NZBB is seeking beekeepers’ views on:
its proposal that the levy for the 2026/27 levy year remain the same at $40 ($46 including GST) per beekeeper and $1.95 ($2.24 including GST) per bee colony , and
the potential extension of NZBB’s mandate to bee biosecurity and exotic bee pests & disease incursion preparedness.
Consultation open date 08 September 2025.
Consultation closing date 5pm Sunday 12 October 2025.
All New Zealand Beekeepers will receive the levy proposal and submission questions via email (or post if they do not have an email address) from 08 September 2025 and can share their views by either:
Completing the online submission form HERE, or
posting a completed submission form to
NZ Bee Health & Biosecurity PO Box 88 Rolleston 7643.
We’re here to help. Please email us at info@nzbb.org.nz
Download the Levy consultation booklet
Download the proposed 2026/27 budget
Download the Bee Biosecurity & Preparedness Document
Our audited accounts for 2024/25
The NZBB Board of Trustees will consider all feedback and notify beekeepers of the outcome in November 2025.
The 2026/27
levy
Notification of the American Foulbrood Beekeeper Levy for 2026/27
New Zealand Bee Health & Biosecurity decision
American Foulbrood – Beekeeper Levy 2026/27
Pursuant to clause 12 of the Biosecurity (American Foulbrood – Beekeeper Levy) Order 2003, notice is hereby given that for the 2026/27 levy year, the beekeeper and colony levy rates (exclusive of GST) will be:
Base levy: $40 per beekeeper
Colony levy: $1.95 per colony owned as of 31 March 2026
Consultation Feedback
We thank beekeepers for their input on the proposed levy rate and budget. Of the 7,445 beekeepers invited, 147 (1.9%) provided submissions via SurveyMonkey, post, or email.
Of the beekeepers that responded, 61.2% agreed or strongly agreed with retaining the levy rate. Hobbyists and mid-sized beekeepers expressed mixed views: some suggested tiered levies or reductions for small-scale operators; others proposed increases to match inflation. Large-scale operators were divided—some supported modest increases, others stressed financial strain.
Overall, beekeepers emphasised accountability, improved AFB education, robust compliance measures, and encouraged sector-wide debate and collaboration.
Supporting AFB elimination together
With colony numbers continuing to decline, NZBB remains focused on careful stewardship of levy funds, ensuring that every expenditure decision is made responsibly and with efficiency in mind. Beekeepers can assist NZBB by:
Remaining compliant with the AFB NPMP and all statutory obligations.
Reporting AFB cases to NZBB within 7 days and destroying AFB-infected hives and associated gear within 7 days.
Creating a dedicated AFB management plan with measurable actions to contain AFB outbreaks and break the cycle of horizontal transmission of this disease.
Demonstrating a year-on-year decline in AFB incidence through strong AFB elimination practices, AFB Recognition and refresher training (commercials and hobbyists), and education.
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The levy order 2003
View the document reprinted on 10 July 2020 EAST
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Levy Consultation
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Bee Biosecurity Feedback
As part of consultation, NZBB sought initial views on wider bee biosecurity issues. Of the 147 submissions, 115 (78.2%) addressed these questions. Key findings included:
Industry readiness for exotic bee pests and diseases was widely considered insufficient across all responses. The current yellow-legged hornet incursion in Auckland is testament to this.
Over 40% supported NZBB potentially expanding its role beyond AFB, with support being strongly dependent on funding and role clarity.
Strong preference for government or pollination service beneficiary funding, with resistance to new beekeeper levies.
NZBB notes that the low response rate (1.3% of all beekeepers) is not considered representative of industry views, particularly as feedback was gathered prior to the recent yellow-legged hornet response in Auckland.
The NZBB Board and management will continue discussions on bee biosecurity and keep beekeepers informed of developments.
We remain committed to delivering a cost-effective, efficient service and to working alongside beekeepers in the shared goal of eliminating AFB and strengthening bee biosecurity in New Zealand.