Biography

Current as of 2016

Frank Lindsay Age 69, based in Wellington. Currently running 180 hives locally, and in the Hutt Valley and Otaki areas in partnership with my wife Mary-Ann, (a marginal area for commercial beekeeping).
I first started 47 years ago in the Wellington area as a hobbyist working up to 150 hives while on shift work, however at 48, I took redundancy from Telecom and went commercial beekeeping expanding to 480 hives. We operate from a suburban city section and have a registered honey house in the basement.

We are bulk producers of bush blends and Manuka honey when the weather is favourable. We packed into 44 gal drums and sell to packers.

I have been active in the industry since taking up beekeeping. I was made a Life member of the Wellington Beekeepers’ Association 1987 (the local hobby club) after holding roles as President, Secretary and newsletter editor. Now currently the President again assisting the Vice-Presidents to run meetings and provide programmes to open members eyes to the world of the honey bee. You have to know the animal before you can farm it effectively.

I have recently retired as the Southern North Island branch secretary after 23 years. As a committee we have successfully run three camp Rangi’s for new and new commercial beekeepers and three NZ Industry conferences. I have also participated in many industry committees over the years. I was made a branch life member in 2001, and received a life membership of the National Beekeepers’ Association of New Zealand in 2004.

Columnist to the New Zealand Beekeeper – “About the Apiary”. A monthly column direct at hobbyist and expanding beekeepers. Chair of the Publication Committee producing the New Zealand Beekeeper.

We travel overseas each year to the New South Wales Apiarist’s Association (NSWAA) conference in Australia and to Eastern Apicultural Society (EAS) in the USA to learn the latest research to incorporate this into our and New Zealand beekeeping.