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# Face of the Day
- URL: https://goodoil.news/face-of-the-day-1631/
- Published: 2026-11-15T17:30:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-11-15T17:29:59.000Z
- Description: ‘And they always give a warning – they tend to bop you on the head’ – Ken Brown.
- Author: Good Oil Staff
- Tags: Face of the Day

> Ken Brown is president of the Auckland Beekeepers Association. \[...\]  
>  
> Auckland’s mild winter meant bees remained active when they would normally hibernate. That has resulted in colonies getting bigger and then splitting when they get too big. Swarms of bees occur when the part of the colony that is separated is looking for a new home, he says. \[...\]  
>  
> “We see it as our responsibility,” he says of dealing with swarms.  
>  
> For the group, it has meant managing up to 10 reports day, twice the number of swarm collections they would normally attend during spring.  
>  
> We drive about 10 minutes from Kumeū’s main street to reach the swarm Brown and I are tasked with moving.  
>  
> The property is a strawberry farm. About 20 metres down the driveway, we see a fencepost covered in bees.  
>  
> Brown describes the swarm as “a good size”, which I think undersells it. The top third of the fencepost looks like it is made entirely of bees, and on one side there’s a huge clump of the insects seemingly hanging off each other. \[...\]  
>  
> He also tells me that bees aren’t aggressive creatures – a likely sign the cool, calm demeanour I’m aiming for is starting to crack. \[...\]  
>  
> Unlike Brown, I’ve opted for the full get-up including bee-proof headgear.  
>  
> “Any bee will not sting you … unless there’s an issue,” he says.  
>  
> “But these ones, it’s only if they get stuck in your hair or something, they can put out the alarm pheromone if they think they’re in danger. Otherwise they’re just curious.”  
>  
> When Brown is directly in front of the fencepost and swarm, he decides a hand-on approach is the way to go. \[...\]  
>  
> He estimates there’s between 8000 and 9000 bees in front of him.  
>  
> I’m about a metre away when Brown crouches down and begins scooping up bees with cupped hands.  
>  
> For a bee newcomer, it’s a lot to take in.  
>  
> “It feels really warm,” he says. “But the weird thing is, you can feel them all vibrating. But also, it is so weird to think all of them could possibly sting you, but they don’t.” \[...\]

![Ken Brown opts for gloves as protection while handing the bees.](https://media.rnztools.nz/rnz/image/upload/s--QeZyV8XV--/t_kt-crop-16x10/w_614/f_auto/q_auto:eco/4JF4G24_bees2_jpg)

Ken Brown opts for gloves as protection while handing the bees. RNZ/Teuila Fuatai

> “The trick is to get the critical mass in, so that then once the queen’s in, they will all come in because they operate on pheromones,” he says.  
>  
> Throughout everything, there’s a constant buzzing, which is oddly therapeutic after a while.  
>  
> Brown says it’s something beekeepers pay close attention too.  
>  
> “You can listen to the sound of them – it’s quite mild.  
>  
> “Once they start getting more high-pitched, then you know they’re starting to get a bit angry, and then you could get stung.  
>  
> “And they always give a warning – they tend to bop you on the head.” \[...\]  
>  
> The entire process takes about 20 minutes. Neither of us are stung, and the hum from the bees remains pleasant. By the end, I’ve even got my headgear and gloves off.  
>  
> RNZ