New Zealand Deerstalkers' Association Incorporated

Concern at why dangerous Poison was in Murupara Heliport Fire

The New Zealand Deerstalkers' Association is concerned at the presence of Brodifacoum, a deadly rat poison in Tuesday's fire at Lakeland helicopters' Depot at Murupara, on the edge of Urewera National Park. Four firefighters and 14 other people were taken to Rotorua Hospital for tests, after being exposed to fumes during the fire.

Brodifacoum is a deadly cumulative poison used to kill rats and possums on offshore islands. But because it is a cumulative poison, it is not licenced for aerial distribution on mainland New Zealand.

"It is important for the public to know why large amounts of Brodifacoum were at Lakeland Helicopters' base on the edge of Urewera National Park when it is illegal to use this poison on mainland New Zealand" NZDA spokesman Dr Hugh Barr said. "Brodifacoum used aerially either by the Department of Conservation or other poisoning agencies was a major risk to hunters harvesting wild deer and pigs. The Ureweras are a popular deerstalking area, and there are also popular pig hunting areas nearby".

"They was also a major risk to farmed cattle, deer and sheep, because overseas markets were paranoid about the presence of brodifacoum in export meat. To our knowledge there have been no announcements about aerial brodifacoum drops in the area" Dr Barr said. " We want to know how the brodifacoum came to be at this helicopter base in Murupara and what it was to be used for."

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