Green Party Biosecurity spokesperson Ian Ewen-Street today said news that MAF plan to double the area to be sprayed for the painted apple moth showed that the incursion had moved from being a serious problem to one that was fast becoming out of control.

"I am absolutely appalled with MAFs handling of this whole process and their latest plan to spray 600 hectares instead of 300 shows that their mishandling of this situation since the first painted apple moths were found over two years ago is leading to dire consequences," he said.

"The recent capture of a high number of male painted apple moths in new areas shows MAF have virtually lost control of these moths, and their drastic new plans to double the spray zone is evidence of that.

"There now seems to be no alternative to spraying on a wide scale when, if MAF had acted properly from the start, it could well have been avoided altogether."

Mr Ewen-Street said the residents in the 600 hectares to be sprayed were rightly very angry and very worried.

"There simply must be an inquiry into MAFs handling of the painted apple moth because we cannot afford a repeat performance if there is ever another incursion.

"The people of Auckland have a right to know what has gone wrong and why, and to make sure this never happens again."

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