Time to ditch1080.. save our environment & create new jobs!

The Kiwi Party
Press Release

March 9, 2009

It is time New Zealand prohibited the indiscriminate use of 1080 by aerial top-dressing methods says Kiwi Party leader Larry Baldock.

Mr Baldock was commenting on the documentary highlighting the ill effects of 1080 on native birds and the overall ecology shown on Campbell live tonight.The documentary is the second anti-1080 documentary by Waikato-based campaigners Clyde and Steve Graf and premiered to an audience of 300 people from both sides of the argument, at the Hokitika Regent Theatre earlier this year.

The film depicts freshwater crayfish fighting over 1080 pellets dropped in water, wild animals dying, and native birds pecking at pellets and poisoned carcasses. "The Graf brothers have compiled a very compelling case, featuring scientists and experienced outdoors people," said Mr Baldock. He recommended the documentary be compulsory viewing for all Members of Parliament, the Department of Conservation's staff and local body staff and councillors.

Mr Baldock rejected that 1080 was necessary to protect bird life and to combat Tb. “While the monitoring and control of TB is important to our export industry it should not be used as a justification for overriding serious concerns about public health and safety. Because of the very disappointing work done by ERMA in the review of 1080, there is still a need for much more research and a ban on the use of 1080 until such research answers all the safety questions.

Scientific work highlighted in the documentary showed that invertebrates such as worms and insects, the very food of kiwi and morepork, could be poisoned and in turn passed the toxin to the birds. "If a residual toxin like 1080 is passed through the food chain, it's probable that DOC and the Animal Health Board are killing native birds by way of their obsession with the poison.”

Mr Baldock criticised recent governments who continued to own the 1080 factory and funded the indiscriminate drops of 1080.
"It's hypocrisy at its worst. New Zealand is not 100% pure and green when it bombards the mountains with 1080."

He believed the 1080 policy was based on a hysterical fear based on myths such as 70 million possums. "After talking to experienced bushmen it seems pretty clear that there are not 70 million possums any longer. Probably the true figure is far less than half of that."

"In a worsening economic environment it makes no sense at all for the taxpayer to be paying millions for 1080 in a dangerous program that seems to require more and more 1080 drops each year, when there is a market for possum fur, skins and meat.

"Jobs could certainly be created for many out of work individuals controlling and harvesting this pest that will never be eradicated from NZ by 1080", said the Kiwi Party leader.

ends

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