The man in charge of the strategy to eradicate American Foulbrood says there will be dire consequences for the New Zealand bee industry if the disease is not controlled.
American Foulbrood is a bacterial disease which often kills infected bee colonies.
National pest management strategy manager Rex Baynes says eradicating the disease is a serious issue and beekeepers must work together to control it.
The number of beehives in New Zealand has increased by 82,000 to more than 370,000 over the past five years.
Registered beekeepers have also increased by nearly 400.
Mr Baynes says the industry is slowly recovering from being severely depleted by the bee mite varroa.
