KAKA Welcomes FATE

Karameans Advocating Kahurangi Action (KAKA) welcomes the establishment of “'Farmers Against Ten Eighty" (FATE)––a new national anti-1080 organisation––at a time when the Animal Health Board (AHB) is actively engaged in a costly national media campaign to promote and justify the continued use of 1080 and its aerial distribution.

The emergence of FATE is a powerful public reminder to the AHB and its pro-1080 adherents that, contrary to their repeated claims in the media, they do not enjoy the overwhelming support of N.Z. farmers. In fact, many if not most farmers, including a significant and increasing number of dairy farmers, have serious concerns about the use of 1080 in the AHB’s Tb eradication strategy.

FATE’s emergence is a timely reminder to advocates of the use of 1080, such as the AHB, TB Free NZ and Federated Farmers, to listen more seriously to the legitimate concerns of their members. Many farmers do not appreciate the broad-scale indiscriminate use of 1080 poison in their name. Many are also justifiably concerned about potential negative impacts 1080 could have on export markets for their products, the environment in which they live and potential human health implications for themselves and their families.

KAKA, FATE and other anti-1080 campaigners seek the speedy implementation of viable alternatives to 1080––alternatives that are genuinely Clean/Green/100%Pure, better serve the needs of rural communities and which ensure a long-term future for our agricultural export industries.

KAKA hopes the AHB will quickly engage in constructive dialogue with FATE and like-minded groups and begin implementing safe, effective alternative pest-control solutions as well as improving the enforcement of existing Tb control regulations.

Congratulations to the members of FATE and Mary Molloy, the group's interim spokesperson.

ENDS

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