New regulations have been approved under the Resource Management Act to provide a national approach to the use of poisons like 1080 and brodifacoum.
Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith says pests such as stoats, rats and possums kill 25 million native birds a year.
'If we are serious about ensuring the survival of species like kiwi, we need to use effective and efficient poisons like 1080.
'This new approach standardises the rules for using such poisons rather than the current system of different rules in different regions. This change will reduce costs and delays for operators, ensure consistent conditions throughout the country, reduce mistakes from misunderstanding rule differences and allow best practice approaches to be used.
'The change will not increase any of the risks around the use of these poisons, which are effectively managed by the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996. It is expected to save $11 million over the next 20 years, enabling more pests to be controlled and more species saved.”
This change was advocated for by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, who was concerned about the duplication and inconsistency of the differing regional rules. The proposal was consulted on last year, with 70 per cent of submissions favouring the change. The new national regulations will come into effect on April 1.
The environment minister announced the news while visiting Tiritiri Matangi Sanctuary in the Hauraki Gulf as part of National's annual Bluegreens Forum.
'I know there is opposition to poisons like 1080 and brodifacoum but they are essential tools to saving New Zealand's natural heritage. Islands like Tiritiri Matangi are only so prolific in birdlife because of the use of these poisons in the past. These new regulations will help us create more special sanctuaries for the future and contribute to the Government's goal of a Predator Free NZ by 2050.”
Further information on the regulation is available at www.mfe.govt.nz
10 comments
Nick Smith
Posted on 26-02-2017 16:08 | By Capt_Kaveman
one word - Delirious
Captain
Posted on 27-02-2017 08:38 | By Kenworthlogger
Stop eating the 1080 then lol....
sinister
Posted on 27-02-2017 13:20 | By Raptor
This claim of massive cost savings is just window dressing for what is really a cunning and sinister ploy by the national government to remove any democratic right for people to resist or protest against the unnecessary use of super-toxins over their lands, or water supplies. It is bad enough at the moment trying to hold regional councils accountable for environmental eco-vandalism with aerial toxins. By disenfranchising the population of a local area from their democratic (and legal) rights, we are heading down a very dangerous path. It is bad enough that the national govt has been flat out trying to sell as much of NZ off as possible to the highest bidders, now they are wanting a free reign to poison our lands and forest ecosystems at will - without any chance of opposition - with one of the most lethal synthetic poisons ever.
Makes good sense
Posted on 27-02-2017 13:33 | By Papamoaner
Next, the tsunami of pious shrill anti-1080 loopies swarming over the horizon folks. Just ignore them.Our rain forests are our primary survival platform. I hope it's not too late, otherwise with global warming now kicking in, the wildfires are inevitable, no longer if, but when.
Makes NO sense
Posted on 27-02-2017 15:47 | By Raptor
why continue using a callous indiscriminate poisoning method that has failed to rid NZ of pests, and will never ever rid NZ of pests? Poisoning for profit - that's why. Ca$h flow con$ervation. Corruption in the poison industry is rife. Baby-formula blackmailer Jeremy Kerr was an established member of the NZ poison industry, not an opponent of it. Follow the $$. Forest & bird certainly seems to have. The only real 'loonies' are those that think you can 'save' a forest by first poisoning it to death, and then repeating that every 2-3 years to deal with the un-natural rat plague you have created. Fools. And crooks !!
All is good Raptor....
Posted on 27-02-2017 18:47 | By Jimmy
and please supply the alternative answer!, me I prefer a shotgun and a torch, but still cannot " exterminate" on a couple of hectares!, then there is the rats and stoats, for mine the sound of a Tui in a tree is sacrosanct!!!, if 1080 does the trick to enable our Native bird life too flourish, then get on with it!!!
@Raptor
Posted on 27-02-2017 22:40 | By Papamoaner
What a brain dead theory. You clearly don't spend much time in our bush, otherwise you would have seen the abundance of evidence that sustained pest control is starting to work, thanks to the decades of effort by our conservation authorities, supported by world class scientists, with no interest in profit. But I guess to some, an appreciation of the general scenario requires a certain level of intellect, which we always knew would be lacking in the shrill pious tsunami swarming over the horizon like skeletons on horseback. Fortunately, you are grossly outnumbered and always will be because we Kiwis at large are not silly.
Misinformation
Posted on 28-02-2017 07:32 | By Petrolhead
Is rife with the 1080 debate. One of my strongest memories of my time at University was a Conservation Biology paper, we were challenged to write a essay in support or objection to using 1080 in NZ, our choice, no right or wrong. I started off thinking how can the mass application of aerial poison possibly be a good thing, I mean surely there must be a problem here?? Then I did the research, actual reference to the studies, science and peer reviewed papers on the topic and it left me in no doubt. NZ has a unique fauna, no native land mammals and 1080 is a very efficient control for mammals - yes that includes Dogs, pigs, deer (which upsets hunters) but also mustelids, possums and rodents. The positive impact on native species mortality rates is undeniable - I have chosen native first, some have not
Rainforest
Posted on 01-03-2017 11:22 | By Papamoaner
I wonder how many people realise that one single mature native beech tree pumps up to several hundred litres (yes, several 44 gallon drums) of water out of the ground and releases it into the atmosphere in a process called transpiration. That can't happen if the leaf cover has been removed from the canopy by tree climbing pests. Nor can the birds spread the seeds if the birds have gone and the seeds are no longer there. Anti 1080 loopies are painting the letter box but letting the house rot into the ground. Just plain dumb. That is why they are the minority albeit loud. They contribute nothing to conservation, only make themselves "feel good"
And don't forget
Posted on 02-03-2017 13:20 | By Papamoaner
That's the amount of water PER DAY. Now multiply that by the number of big trees in even a small rain forest, and you will realise that's a bigger pump than man could ever make. The rain forests are our most precious resource and we cannot allow pests to kill them off. This aint rocket science.
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