First Painted Apple Moth Summer Operation Over – Monday, 1 December

The first summer aerial operation against the painted apple moth is now over. The operation started at first light this morning, stopped between 8am and 9am for children travelling to school and was completed by 9.40am today – Monday, 1 December.

Today's general aerial operation used a small fixed–wing aircraft in the 5 high-risk areas - Hobsonville, Ranui/Swanson, Riverpark, Waikumete Cemetery and Motions/Meola Creek – and a helicopter to treat the difficult areas within Riverpark and Ranui/Swanson. During summer these operations, covering a total of less than 1,000 hectares, will be carried approximately every 21 days. The next date for a general aerial operation is Thursday, 18 December – weather permitting.

Following each general aerial operation a helicopter will continue to treat the difficult areas within Ranui/Swanson and Riverpark at approximately 10-day intervals. The next scheduled targeted helicopter operation is planned to start on Tuesday, 9 December - weather permitting. Providing there are no lengthy delays to the earlier operations the following date for a targeted helicopter operation is Monday, 29 December.

All scheduled treatment days are subject to suitable weather. Any treatment unable to take place because of high winds, rain or humidity will be postponed until the next suitable weather day.

There will be NO aerial operations on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and the 2nd and 3rd of January as well as Auckland Anniversary Day and Waitangi Day.

To receive up-to-date information on aerial operations people can register online at www.maf.govt.nz/paintedapplemoth for email and text messages or call 0800 96 96 96. A map of the summer target areas and up-to-date information about the painted apple moth eradication programme is also available on the website. ENDS

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