The weather conditions are great again today for the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s second morning of its second
targeted aerial spraying operation against the painted apple moth in west Auckland.
The plan this morning is to finish the residential areas of Glendene and Kelston – parts were completed yesterday – then
spray the Waikumete Cemetery, then the Avondale Peninsula.
The helicopter will take off at first light about 6.30am. At least another four hours spraying is needed to finish this
second spraying operation.
Although there are a few schools in the potential spray drift zone and one near the Cemetery, all other schools and
preschoools were completed yesterday when most of the main residential blocks and Traherne Island, near the motorway
were targeted.
The targeted aerial spray zone of 560 hectares includes about 3,000 residential and industrial properties in the west
Auckland suburbs bordering the Whau River and its tributaries, the Avondale Peninsula, Waikumete Cemetery and Traherne
Island.
Ends