General Aerial Operation On Today – Wednesday 2 April 2003

The general aerial operation to wipe out the painted apple moth, planned for Monday 31 March, will get under way soon after first light this morning (Wednesday 2 April). Unfavourable weather forecasts and rainy, windy conditions have caused the operation to be delayed until now.

Today’s operation will take place across the recently reduced eradication zone. Following two cuts last month the entire area is now scaled down to 8,100 hectares. The operation is weather dependent and is likely to take more than one day to complete.

Two fixed-winged aircraft and a helicopter will be used to carry out the operation. The aircraft will overfly the central section cut from the zone however during this time the spray nozzles will be turned off. Some spray drift may be experienced.

As today (Wednesday) is a school day the aircraft will be out of the air, as usual, between 8.00-9.00am, 12.15-1.00pm and 3.00-4.00pm – the times most children travel to and from school and eat their lunch.

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 (990 AM) and Radio Korea (1386 AM) for updates.

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