1080 in the News

Tuesday 14 April.
In May 2009, 22 tonnes of 1080 poison bait is to be aerially applied over 11,000 hectares
around the western and eastern Hutt rivers to the north of Upper Hutt, including the
catchment area for the capital's water supply.
1080 poison not only has links to endocrine disruption, (having the ability to affect the
unborn foetus) it is also a male reproductive toxin.
But Greater Wellington Regional Council spokesman, Murray Kennedy, says the public
should not worry about 1080 getting into their drinking water.
The US manufacturer's label from Tull Chemical Co. states, "Keep out of any body of
water. Dispose (of 1080 contaminated wastes) at least one half mile from human habitation
and water supplies."

Wanganui Animal Control Products safety data sheet states "Avoid pollution of any water
supply with the product (1080.) May be fatal if swallowed. This product is toxic to most
wildlife. Birds and mammals feeding on carcasses of contaminated animals may be killed.
Take measures to minimise the chance of baits entering any body of water. Apply the
product only as specified by its label directions. Where practicable, the exposed bodies of
all poisoned animals should be collected and destroyed by complete burning or deep
burial at a landfill approved for hazardous wastes."

According to NZ OSH requirements, 1080 cannot be applied to catchment areas from which
water is drawn for human consumption without either prior permission of, or consultation
with, the Medical Officer of Health of the district, or an appropriate authority. This same
authority is also responsible for carrying out the poisoning operation. NZ 1080 National
Network coordinator, Kate Winters, says, "The manufacturer's recommendations are there
for good reason. They should be adhered to. Research on the chronic effects of trace
amounts of 1080 on humans is severely lacking. Until this is done, the "precautionary
principle" should apply.

New Zealanders are suffering from a vast range of unusual symptoms, illness and disease,
now more than ever before. Even our children are suffering from rare medical conditions
and cancers. At the same time we are being bombarded by poisons. They are in the food
we eat and in the water we drink. Scientific studies of 1080 on other species have
concluded that the brain, heart, testes, epididymides and foetus are target organs for
sublethal doses of 1080 poison. I am constantly contacted by rural residents throughout
New Zealand, along with ex-pest control workers, whose health has been adversely
affected by 1080.

A 2008 report stated that the sperm count of NZ males is at an all-time low. And now the
Greater Wellington Regional Council propose to put this lethal male reproductive toxin
into our water catchment. How crazy is that? I would like to know how our medical
professionals, or a government with any vision for the future, can stand aside and allow
this to happen?"

ENDS

Wed, 30 Jul 2008
A 1080 poison drop to kill possums and stoats has instead seen the destruction of
some of our most treasured native birds. The deaths of seven kea in south
Westland since May have prompted a review by the Department of Conservation
into its use of 1080 poison. Environmentalists have been warning about the
widespread use of aerial 1080 poison by DOC, who is supposed to be protecting
species, for years.
"They're an endangered species and they're very, very important to New
Zealand,” says anti-1080 campaigner Carey Dillon. “We mustn't lose them, and
we certainly can't do it by poisoning them."

A Department of Conservation study found the kea deaths occurred within three
weeks of an aerial 1080 drop, wiping out 40 percent of the kea population in the
Fox and Franz Josef areas. "We need to monitor more birds," says DoC's Nicola
Vallance. "We need to find out why kea in Fox are particularly affected, while in
two other areas where we were monitoring birds, no kea died." 1080 is routinely
dropped over native forests to eradicate possums and other introduced pests. But
anti-1080 campaigners have long argued it kills native wildlife too. Now that call
has been vindicated. "This just backs up the theories that we need to do a lot
more research and know a lot more," says Mr Dillon.

But DoC is not relinquishing its use of the poison just yet. "We must continue with
business as usual," says Ms Vallance. The department will need to gather more
information about the effect of 1080 on birdlife before reviewing its policy.

Residents helpless as controversial 1080 dropped
Friday, 08 August 2008
Stunned West Coast residents watched helplessly today as an Iroquois
helicopter dosed 9000 hectares of land with 1080 poison laced pellets,
despite huge protests over the past few months. Those monitoring the
operation today, in Kumara, south of Greymouth, were confined to
watching the drop from the sidelines as high security buffers and security
guards hired by the Animal Health Board (AHB) barred public access to
the loading sites. Protest group Kumara Environmental Action (KEA)
spokesman Laurie Collins said some residents were at the loading sites,
but they were monitoring the operation not protesting.

Resident Nicky Calcott said it was an "unbelievably sad" to watch the
1080 dropped over such a large area. She said it would be the "death
knell" for a large portion of the birdlife in the Taipo, Turiwhate and
Kumara areas. "This is not a democracy – a large population of the West
Coast is against this and yet it still goes ahead,"