Things to consider in February.

Please remember the geographic diversity of Canterbury, from the warmth of Christchurch and the coast to the chills of the foothills, whether there is irrigation or not and what you are trying to achieve with your hives, means giving specific info here for each area is difficult.
Getting to know your local climate is very important, as what one person does this month, may need to happen next month for you even though there is only a few KM's between you.

Destroy hives found to be infected with + stored frames and supers that came from infected hives, put an apiary quarantine in place for 18 months where you can’t identify individual supers.
Burn only if fire restrictions not in place, apply for permits to burn from fire brigade, or permits to store from the management agency.

Check entrance ways and weed accordingly.

If needed super up, extract honey if there is a massive excess and return boxes.
Be very careful with robbing bees, only open hives if needed and keep it brief. Try not to spill and honey or wax on the ground and don't leave frames lying around.

Feed Nuc's/small hives to build them up, they may struggle to over winter depending on the rest of season.

Check mite levels and treatment options/dates, this is the time an ineffective spring treatment will show and remember to alternate treatment chemical families in order to reduce the chance of resistance.
Watch out for Deformed Wing Syndrome and treat straight away if you see signs.
Remember to read the packets for verroa treatment, many require the removal of honey supers as they taint the honey, wax or both

Check for the formation of swarm cells, although unlikely keep an eye on hives that are bustling.

Graft queens only if necessary, its better to wait till March if possible

What the bees are doing.

- Queen's egg production slowly easing
- Maintaining large brood, maintaining high bee numbers.
- Robbing likely as nectar sources are getting rare
- Possibility of swarm cells being raised is low but not impossible

Nectar producing plants for February

Although there are quite a few flowers out still, the dry weather means they wont be producing as much nectar.

Pohutukawa (finishing)
Rata (finishing)
Bottle Brush
Australian tea tree (Melaleuca)
Fuschias
Hebe's
Summer flowering eucalypts
Summer red hot pokers
Abutilon
Queen Annes lace (if watered)
Borage (Borago officinalis) English Borage (if irrigated)
Thistle - weed, Nodding Thistle is a Control Weed!
Mignonette
Escallonia
Citrus
Grevillea
Honeysuckle - Japanese var is a weed (finishing)
Echinops (if irrigated)
Sunflower
Golden Rod
Hawkweed/Oxtongue and other dandilion like weeds
Michaelmas Daisey (Aster)
Garlic, Onions, Leeks and Ornamental Alliums
Scabious

Herbs,
Mint and Catmint
Thyme
Marjoram
Rosemary
Fennel - control weed!
Hyssop
Echinacea/cone flowers (if irrigated)
Basil
Lavender (species depentant)