Press release. Wednesday 30th October 2009

Taupo Council's Anti-Aerial 1080 Stand Applauded

A decision by the Taupo District Council to advocate to central government and other appropriate agencies the abolition of aerial spreading of 1080 poison has been praised by a national conservation organisation. The council also moved to advocate for development of a sustainable alternative possum eradication program.

Graham Sperry of Reporoa, chairman of The New Zealand Wildlands BioDiversity Management Society (WBM) applauded the move saying it represented a huge step in bringing commonsense to the 1080 issue and "the beginning of an end to the ecological damage toxins were causing."

The Taupo District Council yesterday held a "resumed special purpose ordinary meeting at which a majority vote supported the development of a sustainable alternative possum eradication and trapping programme and called for the immediate abolition of all aerial dropping of 1080 poison.

Mr Sperry said the Taupo District Council's decision followed a similar decision by council on the West Coast.

He expressed optimism that other Councils would follow the example set by Taupo and the West Coast.

"The Taupo stand is a significant win for the considerable and growing public concern about and opposition to the indiscriminate haphazard scattering of toxins such as 1080 and is a brave stand by Taupo Mayor Rick Cooper and his supporting Councillors," said Mr Sperry.

WBM had been a strong advocate and had made factual submissions on the 1080 The result reflected the strong research and teamwork and WBM society's ability to coordinate action in an effective way complemented by strong support from others said Mr Sperry.

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