Border Patrol or Damage Control ?

Helen Wiseman-Dare, Chairperson, West Aucklanders Against Aerial Spraying said today that MAF's proposal to move to 100% inspection of sea containers would do nothing to help the thousands of people whose health and lives had been destroyed by over one and a half years of aerial spraying for the Painted Apple Moth.

With blanket spraying of areas covering three Auckland cities set to resume in September WASP is calling on MAF to explain why spraying is still continuing despite no moths or caterpillars having been found since April, and since December last year in the Meola Creek hotspot area.

She also said it was appalling that Dr John Clearwater was being forced to field test his Painted Apple Moth pheromone in Australia due to MAF's intransigent attitude.

As long as second hand sewage trucks and other used vehicles and machinery are allowed to enter the country undecontaminated the people of New Zealand will continue to pay the costs of foreign pest eradication, she said.

The Minister for Biosecurity has allowed this country to be used as a tourist haven for countless foreign pests while expecting New Zealanders to pay the price. Unlike his predecessor during the east Auckland Tussock Moth spraying he has not once come to Auckland and fronted up to the people he has sentenced to be aerial sprayed for the next three years.

WASP is calling for his immediate resignation and is strongly advising people not to vote Labour in the next election.

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