Saturday, 15 March 2003

No Aerial Operation Today – Saturday 15 March

There will be no aerial operation to wipe out the painted apple moth today.

After a week of frustrating delays, high winds have once again prevented the operation from getting underway.

The operation was planned to start on Monday 10 March. However rain and wind throughout the week have provided only one window for carrying out the programme. Approximately 3,000 hectares – about one third of the entire eradication zone – were completed yesterday (Friday, 14 March).

The remaining 6,000 (approximately) hectares will be completed tomorrow (Sunday 16 March) or on the next day that weather permits. “We are reluctant to carry out aerial operations on Sunday because the public have told us they prefer week day operations” says Robert Isbister, General Manager for the Painted Apple Moth Programme. “However, the gap between each aerial operation is critical and must be regular enough to interfere in the breeding cycle of the moth. A week of weather delays has left us with no alternative.”

The public can call the free phone 0800 96 96 96 or visit www.maf.govt.nz/painted-apple-moth for general information about the programme. People can also listen to Newstalk ZB (1080 AM), 531 pi (531 AM), Chinese Radio (AM 990) and Radio Korea (1386 AM) for updates.