Threats to kill PM, as debate escalates
As 1080 protesters turn their sights on Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, there are concerns at the increasingly violent turn of the debate.
Ardern has confirmed she has received death threats from the anti-1080 movement as threats against Department of Conservation ranger staff also escalate.
Anti-1080 activists protested outside the Labour Party conference in Dunedin at the weekend and there have been angry protests outside Parliament.
In one protest, dead native birds were placed on the steps of Parliament and Speaker Trevor Mallard said initial examination suggested they were bludgeoned to death. The protesters said they were road kill.
The anti-1080 movement has snowballed in recent years and has become increasingly confrontational.
The threats against DOC staff have become increasingly violent in nature and Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage told Newshub some extremists had threatened potentially deadly action.
The threats included ‘‘tampering with vehicles, shooting down helicopters, putting wires across valleys to bring helicopters down – they’re completely unacceptable’’.
Ardern told Stuff she understood some of the sentiment against 1080 and the Government and DOC were looking for alternatives to pest control.
There were also people who engaged in the debate in ‘‘a rational, constructive way’’.
‘‘[But] when that debate descends into violence and threats of violence, all New Zealanders would be concerned about that. Not for me but for frontline workers.’’ She said her own security had not been stepped up but she was aware that DOC was taking steps to be ‘‘extra-vigilant.’’