Breakthrough in Painted Apple Moth campaign

Aerial spraying to eradicate the Painted Apple Moth might be over for good if new field trials, given the go-ahead today, are successful, Green Party Agriculture spokesperson Ian Ewen-Street MP said.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has given permission for trials of a new synthetic female pheromone (sex attractant), developed independently by Dr John Clearwater, to go ahead. Use of the pheromone, designed to lure male moths into traps, would target remaining male moths, and is likely to reduce any further spraying to limited ground spraying.

"This is a major breakthrough in the campaign to eradicate the Painted Apple Moth and initial tests on the pheromone are very encouraging. The long-suffering residents of West Auckland will be as delighted as I am to hear that successful field trials are likely to end the need for further aerial spraying," said Mr Ewen-Street.

However, Mr Ewen-Street reiterated his call for an inquiry into MAF's handling of the Painted Apple Moth infestation, saying they had completely bungled the issue.

"The Painted Apple Moth should have been eradicated within a year of its discovery," he said.

"Aerial spraying could have been avoided altogether if MAF had worked with the team who were behind the successful eradication of the White Spotted Tussock Moth when the Painted Apple Moth was first discovered.

"It is an indictment on MAF's culture that they refused to give his team access to live female moths needed for their research in 1999, and refused to work cooperatively with Dr Clearwater and the rest of his team.

"Only an inquiry will find out how this disaster could have happened, and how we could stop it happening again."

ENDS

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