6,500-Hectare Spring Aerial Operation On Today – Tuesday 21 October 2003

Today’s fine weather means the 6,500-hectare spring aerial operation, against the painted apple moth will start, as planned, this morning - Tuesday 21 October.

This operation is the first of at least two 6,500-hectare spring treatments to wipe out the moth. Operations will take place in the areas last treated before winter and are expected to get underway at first light around 6am this morning. During the school term, even though the aircraft may be in the air, there will be no treatment between 8 - 9am, 12.15 – 1pm and if necessary 3 – 4pm, the times most children travel to and from school and while they eat their lunch.

As a guide and providing the weather remains favourable the aerial operation is expected to take less than a day to complete. Treatment of all areas should finish before 3pm.

The public can call the free information line 0800 96 96 96 for status updates or listen to MoreFM (91.8FM) or Newstalk ZB (1080AM). People can also visit the resident’s page at www.maf.govt.nz/paintedapplemoth to register for email or text message updates on the status of the aerial operation. A map of the 6,500-hectare operation area and up-to-date information about the painted apple moth eradication programme is also available on the website.

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