By Charlotte Tonkin
The first in a series of protests about the use of methyl bromide to kill pests on export logs has taken place in Picton.
In the past decade New Zealand's use of the fumigant has increased five hundred percent.
The protests come just before a final decision is made on how we should use the gas, if at all.
“Nothing to say about the use of this hazardous gas and releasing it in to the open,” says Sue Kedgley, Green MP.
But there was plenty to be said amongst protestors who want the gas banned.
“It's highly poisonous, that's why it's being used,” say Steffan Browning.
The log export industry is the highest user of methyl bromide in New Zealand. It's used to fumigate for pests.
Logs are covered with tarpaulins then the gas is pumped in. When the covers are taken off the excess gas is released into the atmosphere.
“There's no excuse to be using this highly toxic gas in such a primitive way,” says Ms Kedgley.
Last month Europe banned the use of the fumigant.
The environmental risk management authority is reassessing what should be done here.
Its preliminary recommendation is to continue to use the gas to meet biosecurity standards for the import and export of goods but to have tighter control over its use.
At Port Nelson, they're using re-capture technology which helps contain the gas.
But the Maritime Union says its workers won't be safe until it's not used at all.
“It's a gas, you can't see it, you can't smell it, you don't know whether you're breathing it in or not, you don't know what the effects are, it's not poisonous and yet they find dead rats and cats who've taken shelter in the bad weather and they've found them dead,” says Joe Fleetwood, Maritime Union General Secretary.
A series of hearings will begin next month to evaluate the authority's preliminary recommendations. A final decision is expected to be made by mid - July.
3 News