Government “Blindly Arrogant” in Grabbing Full Control of 1080 Use

Government in wanting sole control, over the use of 1080 poison and brodifacoum was removing citizens’ right to protest said Laurie Collins convenor of the Sporting Hunters Outdoor Trust (SHOT).

He was responding to an announcement that government was taking control of the use of poisons to kill pests as it tries to make New Zealand free of predators by 2050. New regulations have been approved under the Resource Management Act that provide a national approach to the use of poisons like 1080 and brodifacoum, Environment Dr Nick Smith said.

But Laurie Collins said the move was “blindly arrogant” and showed ignorance by Environment Minister Nick Smith about using toxins. Laurie Collins had many years in the use of poisons among them the first trials in the late 1950s, with 1080 in the Caples Valley at Lake Wakatipu. He warned that while 1080 received most publicity due to the aerial broadcasting over thousands of acres and was a potent poison, brodifacoum was even more dangerous.

“It should not be forgotten Nick Smith and his colleague Minister of Conservation Maggie Barry were guilty of topdressing the public’s lands with 1080. It’s public property they are mistreating. The public deserve the right to have a say,” he said.

He said hunters had first hand, long term experience of the mountains and bush.

“They know and understand the ecosystem and see the damage done by 1080 with birds like moreporks, keas, falcons and others annihilated,” said Laurie Collins. “Besides 1080 and brodifacoum are shockingly cruel poisons taking days and days to kill. No creature deserves that callous treatment.”

He said the case for 1080 was unsound, often backed by commissioned, paid biassed science.

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