New 1080 drop rules welcomed by DOC
The Department of Conservation has welcomed the new standardised approach to using 1080, but does not think the rule change will have a large effect in Southland.
DOC southern South Island operations director Allan Munn said he was ‘‘very pleased’’ about the changes, which will see a nationally-coordinated approach to dropping 1080 poison in conservation areas.
The changes, announced by Environment Minister Nick Smith, will come into effect on April 1.
The new regulations, approved under the Resource Management Act, would see a uniform set of rules applied for the use of the controversial poison.
There had been a lot of research done during the past 30 years across New Zealand looking into 1080 and how it was used, Munn said.
‘‘The research, we think, has answered all the questions... concerning the safety of the poison,’’ he said.
Having a standardised approach removed the ‘‘layers of bureaucracy’’ with having to get a resource consent to use 1080 and was good for the country, conservation and the economy, he said.
‘‘It saves money for farmers, given they’re the biggest users of 1080,’’ he said.
Environment Minister Nick Smith said the new approach would standardise the rules for using such poisons rather than the current system of different rules in different regions.
‘‘Pests like stoats, rats and possums kill 25 million native birds a year, and if we are serious about ensuring the survival of species like Kiwi, we need to use effective and efficient poisons like 1080,’’ Smith said.
‘‘This change will reduce costs and delays for operators, ensure consistent conditions throughout the country, reduce mistakes from misunderstanding rule differences and allow best practice approaches to be used.’’
The change would not increase risks, Smith said, but it was expected to save $11 million over the next 20 years, ‘‘enabling more pests to be controlled and more species saved’’.
The change was advocated for by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, who was concerned about the duplication and inconsistency of the differing regional rules.
The proposal went out for public consultation with 70 per cent of submissions favouring the change.
Smith made the announcement while visiting the Tiritiri Matangi Sanctuary in the Hauraki Gulf as part of National’s annual Bluegreens Forum.
He acknowledged there was opposition to the use of 1080, but said the benefits outweighed the risks.
‘‘I know there is opposition to poisons like 1080 and brodifacoum but they are essential tools to saving New Zealand’s natural heritage. Islands like Tiritiri Matangi are only so prolific in birdlife because of the use of these poisons in the past.
‘‘These new regulations will help us create more special sanctuaries for the future and contribute to the Government’s goal of a Predator Free NZ by 2050.’’