The Peoples Inquiry Welcomed.

The People’s Inquiry into the impacts of the Painted Apple Moth (PAM) aerial spraying, is welcomed by the Green Party.

The inquiry co-ordinated by PAM Community Network was formalised by a meeting of about 100 people on Thursday 28 July when terms of reference and 5 commissioners for the Inquiry to be held in Waitakere City this November, were agreed.

“The seriousness of the health and environmental concerns certainly warrant an inquiry,” said Green Party Biosecurity spokesperson Steffan Browning, “This community driven process comes from the frustration of many previously being fobbed off by the authorities involved.”

“Unfortunately the Inquiry results of the 2002 post election dousing on West Auckland for Painted Apple moth will not be completed ahead of a likely post election dousing for the Mt Wellington area community, with spraying to target the Fall Web worm.”

Heavy handed methods of pest control are far better managed at the port rather than over New Zealand communities.

More stringent biosecurity controls are required than the current proposed 1% random basic auditing of sea containers with as little as 3 metre buffers from rubbish and vegetation at inspection.

Intensive ground control with early heavy use of pheromone traps must occur in the event of new pest discoveries, instead of the fiddle while Rome burns and then blink while Waitakere soaks in it scenarios, said Mr Browning.

The Green Party is committed to a clean green New Zealand through strong biosecurity and environmental controls that avoid the need for blanket spraying and looks forward to the Peoples Inquiry report.

Steffan Browning,

Biosecurity Spokesperson

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