For nine years, I was a National Executive member of the National Beekeepers' Association. This work involved me in preparation and administration of budgets, political representations with both personal and written submissions, public relations and press releases, and a variety of other tasks associated with administration of a national producers' organisation. I was the National President of the Association for three years.

The National Beekeepers' Association work included considerable involvement in a regulated environment with transition into new legislation. The levy that previously funded the organisation was collected under the Hive Levy Act 1978 (now repealed). During my time as President, I co-ordinated the work to obtain the Commodity Levies (Bee Products) Order 1996. Many other beekeeping related activities were regulated by the Apiaries Act 1969. During my presidency, I managed the obtaining of the Biosecurity (National American Foulbrood Pest Management Strategy) Order 1998 using the Biosecurity Act 1993. Through my involvement on the NBA executive, I have learned to read and understand regulatory provisions, as well as make submissions for changes.

I have been a licensed amateur radio operator since 1967, though not active during all of those years. I currently hold licence ZL1BSN. My activity is confined to the use of computers and radio, described as 'packet radio'. Though I have not maintained full hardware technical capabilities, I have a reasonable understanding of radios and computers at the hardware level.

I have used the Internet avidly, primarily as a communications and research tool, since 1992. I was among the very first people in Tauranga to do so, after talking my way into a dialup account at the University of Waikato in early 1992! I have used that to develop Web pages to promote Beekeeping in New Zealand, as well as a number of other personal and specialist interest sites for friends and professional organisations.