NEW ZEALAND DEERSTALKERS' ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED
PRESS RELEASE

1080 Decision Has Deerstalkers Ready To Roar

The New Zealand Deerstalkers' Association is responding to ERMA New Zealand's decision on 1080 with measured disappointment, and with guarded optimism.

The association is dismayed that ERMA's panel has failed to completely ban or phase out aerial 1080 operations, a position it advocated in its national and branch submissions. It is also sorry to see that no significant decrease in the sowing rate of 1080 baits per hectare has been recommended by panel members.

Immediate past president Trevor Dyke reflects that:
"We are a realistic organisation and with the strength of the opposition our chances were going to be difficult. But the association feels it has advanced its overall position with respect to deer, and on 1080."

Some positives have come from this decision. NZDA welcomes the introduction of ERMA's monitoring of all aerial drops, from January 2008. It will be keeping close tabs to see that the plight of hunters, and deer, are represented to ERMA during all phases of 1080 operations.

NZDA is especially pleased to see the committee has formally acknowledged hunters' concerns.

In its full decision, it has explicitly recommended that DOC, AHB, and regional councils, consult carefully with deerstalkers, and with NZDA in particular, before these agencies operate aerial 1080 drops. The association fully expects DOC and the AHB to follow the panel's recommendations. It is looking forward to setting up on-going productive dialogues around the country, to ensure deer by-kill is minimised in every 1080 operation.

North Island vice-president Kevin Duckworth believes such recognition is important for the sport of deerstalking, and for enhancing the profile of deer as a part of our heritage.

"NZDA clearly landed a few punches," he says.

"Perhaps for the first time ever, deer are acknowledged by a cornerstone government agency as valued resource."

NZDA understands impacts on deer were not considered adverse enough to warrant significant controls on aerial 1080. It is encouraged however, that non-target species in general, including deer, are considered more important to ERMA than they appeared to be to DOC and AHB.

NZDA is also encouraged by ERMA's new controls for aerial distribution of 1080 and on use of the poison around waterways.

Kevin Duckworth remarks:
"They can no longer dump 1080 over the Waingawa River in the Tararuas, (where a major 1080 operation is currently planned), because it is a public water supply for Masterton."

The association encourages its members to speak out when they become aware of any overflying of waterways by aircraft carrying 1080 poison.

The association endorses ERMA's call for more research into alternative methods of pest control. It believes ERMA's view just vindicates the views of hunters, who have long believed 1080 is far from safe.

NZDA has been involved in scientific 1080 research with Landcare, and still believes effects on human health are poorly understood. It intends to continue advocating, and being involved in developing new options which will see the end of 1080 poisoning as soon as possible.

"1080 is not the magic bullet that its proponents claim," says Trevor Dyke. He believes the association will vigorously support viable alternatives, "especially if research can be done independently of user groups like DOC."

NZDA intends to:

Increase its national representation before, during and after all 1080 operations, to agencies conducting them;

Encourage branches to interact forcibly with local agencies doing 1080 operations, to ensure by-kill is minimised;

Ensure more effort is made by government agencies to adopt suitable methods of reducing by-kill, throughout the country;

Work with researchers and pest controllers to see new methods for reducing by-kill are developed and widely used.

ENDS

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