Painted Apple Moth Eradication Programme Starts Today

The next round of the aerial operation in the extended painted apple moth eradication programme is starting at first light today (Wednesday, 13 November 2002).

Three aircraft are being used in the aerial spray operation - a Fokker Friendship, a small, fixed-wing aircraft and a helicopter.

In an effort to avoid school children getting wet from the spray operation there have been some adjustments to the aerial operations. During the times when most children are walking to and from school and having lunch breaks the aircraft will be on the ground.

Painted apple moth general manager, Mr Isbister says, “wiping out the painted apple moth is a complex logistical exercise but we’ve listened to community concerns and we made this changes to give people the choice to avoid the spray if they want to.

“To give some certainty we will aim to refuel and reload aircraft between 8am-9am; 12:15pm- 1pm and 3pm-4pm.”

The approximately 8,000 hectare aerial zone includes the following suburbs: Te Atatu South, Massey West, Ranui, Henderson North, Western Heights, Palm Heights, McLaren Park, Oratia, Glen Eden West, Glen Eden, Sunnyvale, Henderson, Henderson North, Lincoln, Glendene, Kelston, Harbour View, Avondale, Waterview; parts of New Lynn, Mt Albert, Point Chevalier and Blockhouse Bay. Traherne Island and the north western motorway between Lincoln Road and Waterview ramps are also included. About 40,000 properties are in the zone.

The spray to be used is called Foray 48B. Its active ingredient is a naturally-occurring soil bacterium called Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki or Btk for short. This product has been widely used throughout the world for over 30 years as a highly effective means of killing caterpillar pests. Some Btk products are approved organic pest control agents.

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