In the quiet hum of New Zealand’s beehives, a silent threat is spreading.

This documentary follows Dunedin-based dog trainer Rene Gloor as he takes on an unlikely mission: training an American Staffordshire terrier named Georgie to detect American foulbrood — a highly destructive bacterium that kills honeybee larvae and devastates hives.

American foulbrood costs the New Zealand honey industry millions of dollars each year. Traditionally, detecting the disease relies on invasive inspections and the trained eyes of beekeepers. But Rene believes there may be a better way — one that uses the extraordinary scenting abilities of dogs to identify infection early and non-invasively.

As Georgie progresses through intensive training, the film explores the science behind scent detection, the stakes for beekeepers, and the wider implications for biosecurity and agricultural innovation. At its heart, it is a story of partnership — between human and dog — and of hope in the fight to protect one of our most vital pollinators.

Blending science, perseverance and purpose, the documentary shines a light on an innovative approach that could help safeguard New Zealand’s honey industry and the ecosystems that depend on it.

The film was created as part of Sarah Hight's Master of Science Communication at the University of Otago