American Foulbrood Course & DECA
AFB Recognition Courses
NZBB (NZ Bee Health & Biosecurity) have advised the latest AFB Recognition courses and AFB Refresher courses being held in the Auckland area.
If beekeepers are eligible to apply for a DECA as COI season approaches, please sign up today. The next courses will be in 2026.
Attending an AFB Recognition course is essential for all beekeepers.
Learn how to recognise the early signs of AFB (American Foulbrood) to ensure your hives stay healthy and free of AFB.
Gain confidence in identifying AFB symptoms early to prevent its spread.
Check out the NZBB AFB Recognition Course promotional video! – CLICK HERE.
OREWA
Date: Saturday 27 September 2025, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Course location: Hibiscus Coast Community House, 216 Hibiscus Coast Highway, Orewa
Cost: $100.00 per person, incl GST
Register & make payment to NZBB: CLICK HERE
Bank details can be provided if you prefer to pay via internet banking.
MANUREWA
Date: Saturday 18 October 20259:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Course location: Baha’i Centre, 16 Rowandale Avenue, Manurewa
Cost: $100.00 per person, incl GST
Register & make payment: CLICK HERE
Bank details can be provided if you prefer to pay via internet banking.
NORTHCOTE
Date: Saturday 1 November 2025, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Course location: Northcote War Memorial Hall, 2 Rodney Road, Northcote Point, Auckland
Cost: – $100.00 per person, incl GST
Register & make payment: CLICK HERE
Bank details can be provided if you prefer to pay via internet banking.
Refresher AFB Recognition courses
Either attend a FULL Course as a refresher or attend a 2 hour refresher course.
Attend a FULL COURSE as a refresher
DECA holders can also attend the full courses at a reduced cost as we encourage them to complete an AFB refresher course every two years.
Attending a full course as a refresher is a great way to gain extra knowledge that may have forgotten since becoming a DECA holder.
To attend a full course as a refresher, the cost is $30 per person (register via training@nzbb.org.nz).
Refresher attendees leave the course when the other attendees begin the test at approximately 2:00 pm.
2 HOUR AFB REFRESHER – GREY LYNN
Date: Saturday 13 September 2025 9:00 am to 11:00 am.
Course location: Grey Lynn Community Centre, 510 Richmond Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland
Cost: $30.00 per person, incl GST
Register & make payment: CLICK HERE
Contact
Contact Janette Gwilliam (phone 0800 232767or email training@nzbb.org.nz) with any course questions or if you wish to register over the phone.
What you can expect from the FULL course:
Legal Obligations – we cover your legal requirements as a beekeeper, including the 6 critical legal requirements to eliminate AFB.
Healthy brood vs AFB comparison – we look at larva & pupa, as well as cappings, laying patterns, pre-pupa, scale and ropiness.
How does AFB Develop in a Hive – we cover 3 potential scenarios for hive infection and the common, and less common, sources of spread.
Inspections & Diagnosis –the difference between various diseases you might come across in a hive and how samples are collected and tested.
How to destroy a colony – sterilising beekeeping equipment, and how hives infected with AFB and contaminated equipment should be stored.
Reporting, Recording & Quarantining – covers the 3 methods of quarantine: hive, apiary, and area.
Elimination Methods & Inspections – the most effective way to combat AFB and how to correctly perform a brood inspection
Where possible, our trainer will have an AFB infected frame available for you to study to see AFB in person.
This one-day classroom course runs from 9am through to approximately 3pm. The course has a break for the lunch with an assessment at the end of the day. Completion of the course and assessment are a step towards eligible beekeepers being able to apply for a DECA (Disease Elimination Conformity Agreement). 12 months registration and full compliance with AFB NPMP rules are also required.
Even if you do not wish to become a DECA holder, all beekeepers are encouraged to attend an AFB Recognition course which will help to familiarise you with what is normal and what is not in your working hive. This ensures that the detection and recognition of AFB is caught early and eliminated, prior to spreading.
If you are unable to attend a classroom course, the online AFB Recognition Course is an excellent solution for those that are unable to make our in-person classroom based courses due to location, convenience or accessibility.
CLICK HERE for online course information.
CLICK HERE for frequently asked questions.