By Dan Satherley, Ally Mullord and RadioLIVE staff
There's a claim that unless even more 1080 pesticide is used, New Zealand faces a future without many of its special plants and animals.
Environment Commissioner Dr Jan Wright has released a report into the controversial poison. It says 3.5 million kilograms of 1080 is dropped on New Zealand forests each year, killing pests such as possums, rats and stoats.
The poison's use has triggered emotional protests and calls for a ban, but Dr Wright believes 1080 poses a relatively small risk and even more of it should be used.
She says she seldom comes to such a strong conclusion at the end of an investigation, but UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne has called it a "kick in the guts".
“1080 has been used in New Zealand since the 1950s," he says. "Most people recognise that after 50-odd years of fighting a losing battle it’s probably time to rethink your strategy."
Mr Dunne, who last year said UnitedFuture will push for a total 1080 ban after the November election, says with predatory pests still the major culprits of native bird population decline the Department of Conservation (DoC) must investigate alternatives.
“We currently spend around $100 million a year on 1080 operations, mostly in and around communities who do not want it and have to suffer the consequences of having it.”
Mr Dunne says 1080 is “an extremely cruel and indiscriminate killer” and local communities need to be better empowered to contribute to pest control operations.
He says DoC currently spends less than $2 million a year on researching and developing alternatives and UnitedFuture is committed to “significantly increasing” that figure, and establishing “initiatives such as 1080-free pest control pilot programmes”.
He says DoC and other pest control agencies will contribute out of their existing 1080 budget.
“No matter what DoC’s science says, spraying such an unpopular and deadly toxin over large tracts of our conservation estate, water catchments and farmland will never be accepted by those that reside in our provincial communities and see the devastation it causes.”
But Dr Wright says 1080 is the most effective weapon they have.
“There are other pest control methods that are more suitable than 1080 in certain circumstances but on much of our conservation land there is currently nothing else that will effectively kill possums, rats and stoats.
“While there may be an alternative to 1080 one day, if we want to keep our forests for future generations we simply cannot afford to stop using 1080. Time is not a luxury we have."
The Government has also welcomed the report.
“Our most challenging environmental problem is introduced pests such as possums, stoats and rats threatening the survival of our native species,” says Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson.
She also rejected Mr Dunne's claim 1080 cost the country $100 million a year.
“DOC spends $22 million on pest control each year and with 8 million hectares to look after it targets 1080 where it is needed most."
Conservation advocate Nicola Vallance hopes the report will help 1080 to be accepted as a critical weapon in the war against pests.
RadioLIVE / 3 News