AFB Recognition Courses
We are providing non-DECA holders with the opportunity to attend an AFB Recognition course and pass the test as a pre requisite for applying for a Disease Elimination Conformity Agreement (DECA).
DECA holders agree to implement practices and procedures sufficient to eliminate AFB from their beehives and no longer need to submit a Certificate of Inspection. Please be aware that the DECA will only be approved once you have done the required steps to obtaining your DECA as outlined in the process, please CLICK HERE
All correspondence relating to AFB recognition course training (with test) and refresher training (with no test) should be directed to Janette Gwilliam, contact details are training@afb.org.nz or phone 0800 232 767 and choose option 4.
For more information about our AFB refresher courses – CLICK HERE
And information regarding taking the AFB Recognition Course test via Proctor – CLICK HERE.
The AFB Test is now available in Maori, Korean, Filipino and Mandarin (Simplified Chinese). Please advise Janette if you require the above to be sent to the trainer for your course.
Important:
If you are planning on attending an AFB Recognition Course it is strongly recommended that you purchase and study a copy of the book titled “Elimination of American Foulbrood Disease without the Use of Drugs” commonly referred to as the yellow book. This worthwhile publication can be obtained from:
- Your local beekeeping supplier
- Apiculture New Zealand – click here to go to the online shop
- Latest 2018 Revised Edition: – cost: $39.95 (plus postage costs $7.50)
Course Information
Most courses run from 9am – to approx. 3pm. There is a break for lunch then completion of the course and test in the afternoon. Applicants must bring their own lunch and any drinks they will require for the day. To register for the courses, please complete the application form at the bottom of this website and immediately make your payment to the bank details listed to secure your place. You will receive a receipt of your payment which will secure your place on this course as well as outline some tips to help prepare for the test.
Courses cost $100 per person are limited to 25 paid participants – the course will be listed as full once this has been reached.
Should beekeepers who fall outside of the regions mentioned require a course(s), given there is reasonable support, we will do our best to organise additional courses. Please email Janette Gwilliam at training@afb.org.nz with your location details.
Please complete the registration form to submit your application.
2021
LINCOLN – Saturday 15 May, 9am – Lincoln University (room TBC)
3 SPACES STILL AVAILABLE – REGISTATIONS CLOSE THURSDAY 13 MAY
INVERCARGILL– Sunday 16 May, 9am – SIT – Tay Street – Invercargill
COURSE POSTPONED DUE TO INSUFFICIENT NUMBERS – new date 26 Sept
LOWER HUTT – Saturday 22 May, 9am – Lower Hutt Events Centre – Laings Road – Lower Hutt
KERIKERI– Saturday 22 May, 9am – Northtec Kerikeri campus – cnr Kerikeri Road & Honeheke Road
HAMILTON– Saturday 22 May, 9am – Aaron Court Motor 250 Ulster Street – Whitiora – Hamilton
COURSE NOW FULL – NEXT COURSE FOR HAMILTON IS 7 AUGUST
NEW PLYMOUTH – Sunday 23 May, 9am – Brougham Heights Motel – 54 Brougham Street
NORTHCOTE– Sunday 23 May, 9am – Northcote War Memorial Hall – 2 Rodney Road
THIS COURSE IS NOW FULL – GLENFIELD IS AVAILABLE ON 10 JULY
WANGANUI– Saturday 29 May, 9am – Vintage Car Club – Patapu Street – Wanganui East
WHANGAREI– Saturday 29 May, 9am – McKay Stadium – Western Hills Drive – Whangarei
QUEENS BIRTHDAY 7 JUNE 2021
WAIMAUKU– Saturday 12 June, 9am – Waimauku War Memorial – 24 Waimauku Station Road
PALMERSTON NORTH – Saturday 19 June, 9am – Crossroads – Church Street – Palmerston North
OTAKI – Saturday 26 June, 9am – Otaki Hub Church – 157 Tasman Road – Otaki
HASTINGS – Sunday 27 June, 9am – Land Based Training Centre – 204 Warren Street – Hastings
WAIPU – Sunday 4 July, 10am – Waipu Primary School – Argyl Street – Waipu
GLENFIELD – Saturday 10 July, 9am – Glenfield Memorial Hall – Hall Road – Glenfield
MASTERTON – Saturday 24 July, 9am – Wairarapa Community Hall
REMUERA – Saturday 24 July, 9am – Somervell Presbyterian Church 497 Remuera Road
POINT CHEV – Sunday 1 August, 9am – Point Chev Community Centre – 18 Huia Road – Point Chevalier
HAMILTON– Saturday 7 August, 9am – Aaron Court Motor 250 Ulster Street
DUNEDIN– Saturday 14 August, 9am – Otago Polytechnic Dunedin campus
KAITAIA– Saturday 21 August, 9am – Christian Fellowship – 149 Pukepoto Road – Kaitaia
LOWER HUTT – Saturday 21 August, 9am – Lower Hutt Events Centre – Laings Road – Lower Hutt
CHRISTCHURCH– Saturday 28 August, 9am – Papanui Public Library – 5 Restell Street
CROMWELL– Saturday 4 September, 9am – Otago Polytech Cromwell Campus – 25 Bannockbun Road
NELSON– Sunday 5 September, 9am – Richmond campus of NMIT – Lower Queen St
TAURANGA– Saturday 11 September, 9am – Macys Motor Inn – Avenue & Edgecumbe Road – Tauranga
GLENFIELD– Sunday 12 September, 9am – Glenfield Memorial Hall – Hall Road – Glenfield
KERIKERI– Saturday 18 September, 9am – Northtec Kerikeri campus – cnr Kerikeri Road & Honeheke Road
ROTORUA– Saturday 18 September, 10am – Arawa Bowling Club – Lytton St – Rotorua
BLENHEIM– Saturday 25 September, 9am – NMIT – Budge Street – Blenheim
INVERCARGILL– Sunday 26 September, 9am – SIT – Tay Street – Invercargill
MASTERTON– Saturday 2 October, 9am – Wairarapa Community Hall
REMUERA – Saturday 2 October, 9am – Somervell Presbyterian Church 497 Remuera Road
WHANGAREI– Saturday 2 October, 9am – McKay Stadium – Western Hills Drive – Whangarei
TIMARU– Saturday 9 October, 9am – Ara Institute of Technology – 32 Arthur Street – Timaru
TE ANAU – Sunday 10 October, 10am – Te Anau Club – cnr Pop Andrew Drive & Jackson St
PAPAKURA– Saturday 16 October, 9am – Skills Horticulture Centre – 572/A Great South Road
INVERCARGILL– Sunday 17 October, 9am – Southern Institute of Technology 133 Tay Street Invercargill
LABOUR DAY – 25 OCTOBER 2021
PALMERSTON NORTH – Saturday 30 October, 9am – Crossroads – Church Street – Palmerston North
WANGANUI– Saturday 6 November, 9am – venue TBC
HAMILTON– Saturday 13 November, 9am – Aaron Court Motor 250 Ulster Street
NEW PLYMOUTH – Sunday 14 November, 9am – Brougham Heights Motel – 54 Brougham Street
AMBERLEY– Saturday 20 November – Amberley Library
OTAKI – Saturday 27 November, 9am – Otaki Hub Church – 157 Tasman Road – Otaki
CHRISTCHURCH– Sunday 28 November, 9am – Papanui Public Library – 5 Restell Street
NELSON– Sunday 5 December, 9am – Richmond campus of NMIT, Lower Queen Street
AFB recognition and competency test application form
Take the AFB 5 minute quiz
How well do you know what you need to know about AFB and beekeeping? Take our short quiz and find out.
Videos
Our videos cover everything from your legal obligations to how to recognise AFB, collecting cell and bee samples and more.
Symptoms
There’s a lot of good information here, telling you everything you need to know about recognising AFB: the visual symptoms, smell of AFB and more.
Inspection and Diagnosis
Successfully eliminate AFB by telling the difference between symptoms of AFB and other brood diseases in the hive. We tell you the best methods for inspecting your hives.
The Law
New Zealand beekeepers have a number of legal obligations that must be met regarding AFB disease. Read the shortened list in summary, here.
Elimination
Most hives become infected because bees, honey or equipment have been put into a hive from another hive that is infected with AFB. Lower your chances of an AFB infection by reading this section.
AFB Recognition Course Info
Find out when the next AFB Recognition and Competency Courses, or Refresher Courses are available. These are held throughout the year in various New Zealand locations across the South Island and North Island.
The AFB App
Follow the link below to open the App. Once open to save to your device you need to bookmark the URL on your phone so you can find it easily again. Please click here to open.