Conservation Minister supported in Declining Blanket 1080 poisoning on Public recreation lands.

The New Zealand Deerstalkers' Association (NZDA), the national big game hunting body, has warmly welcomed Minister of Conservation Chris Carter's decision to decline the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society's irresponsible request for blanket 1080 use on public recreation and conservation lands.

"1080 is an extremely powerful and very dangerous poison, with no known antidote" Dr Hugh Barr, NZDA's National Advocate said. "It kills the insects that birds survive on. It kills native birds, and mammals, including valued recreational big game such as deer."

"Because of its potency as a poison, there is a six month health exclusion period in taking big game in any area where 1080 has been spread. High dose blanket 1080 is not the stuff that agencies should be shovelling onto public parklands with a hope and a prayer," Dr Barr said.

"Also, many pest issues have complex feedback loops. For instance, kill all the stoats, and rat explosions become more likely," Dr Barr said. "Widespread indiscriminate aerial poisoning with 1080, also raises questions of the reality of New Zealand's much vaunted "100% Pure" tourist campaign. Far too much aerial 1080 is used now in New Zealand. Most hunters will warmly welcome the Minister's step towards poisoning moderation" Dr Barr said.

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