General Aerial Operation Resumes Today – Thursday 3 April

The current general aerial operation to wipe out the painted apple moth will resume soon after first light this morning (Thursday 3 April). Unstable weather patterns at the beginning of the week caused the start of the operation, planned for Monday 31st March, to be postponed until yesterday (Wednesday 2 April).

Before the operation was suspended mid morning yesterday, (Wednesday 2 April) due to rising winds, the aircraft completed nearly 50% of the 8,100-hectare eradication zone. Providing weather conditions remain favourable the remainder of the zone is likely to be finished today.

Two fixed-winged aircraft and a helicopter will be used to carry out the operation. The aircraft will overfly the central section cut from the zone last month however during this time the spray nozzles will be turned off. Some spray drift may be experienced.

As usual, on a school day, the aircraft will be out of the air between 8.00-9.00am, 12.15-1.00pm and 3.00-4.00pm – the times most children travel to and from school and eat their lunch.

The public can call the free phone 0800 96 96 96 or visit www.maf.govt.nz/painted-apple-moth for general information about the programme. People can also listen to Newstalk ZB (1080 AM), 531 pi (531 AM), Chinese Radio (990 AM) and Radio Korea (1386 AM) for updates.

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