MAF Condemned for Resumption of Chemical Warfare

Helen Wiseman-Dare, Chairperson, West Aucklanders Against Aerial Spraying today condemned MAF's decision to resume blanket spraying over Auckland for the Painted Apple Moth.

MAF continues to wage chemical warfare over innocent civilians although no moths or caterpillars have been found for over six months, she said. The Meola Reef area has not had a find since last December.

MAF has increased its aerial spray zone which now covers even larger parts of three Auckland cities - North Shore, Waitakere and Auckland.

The numbers of those needing to be evacuated are once again expected to rise into the hundreds. The misery and disruption suffered by those whose lives have already been devasted by nearly two years of aerial spraying will once again escalate. Even during the winter hot spot spraying, new cases of those suffering adverse health effects continued to be reported. Some streets in the hot spot areas have many families regularly evacuated by MAF to motels.

Last night around 30 anti spray protestors picketed at the Kelston Community Centre where MAF was holding a public consultation meeting on walking access in the NZ outdoors. The protestors were demanding access to a Sprayfree Outdoors. They were supported by a contingent from the Hamilton aerial spray zone dressed in long black veils, black clothes and hats, carrying crosses inscribed with "RIP" referring to the death of our clean, green environment now being poisoned by aerial spraying.

West Aucklanders Against Aerial Spraying supports those in Hamilton in their fight against the Asian Gypsy Moth aerial spraying.

Protect New Zealanders - The sooner we get aerial spraying stopped the better.

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