New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association Incorporated

Website: http://www.deerstalkers.org.nz

23 June 2008

Media Release
Dangerous Government Double Standard with 1080 Poison

“The sharp media response to a few 1080 look-alike pellets being scattered in Christchurch’s Hagley Park is in strong contrast to its minimal response to Government’s new policy of dumping tonnes of 1080 poison baits in public water supply areas” New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association spokesman Dr Hugh Barr says.

“In the township of Kumara on the West Coast, the Regional Council intends dumping tonnes of 1080 bait around the town’s water supply aquifer. The Department of Conservation (DOC) intends dropping over ten tonnes of toxic 1080 bait in Levin’s water supply area.” Dr Barr said.

“1080 bait is very poisonous, with 200 milligrams the lethal dose for an average human. That's one twentieth of a teaspoon. In the case of Levin’s water supply area of over 3,000 Ha, this means over ten tonnes of bait will be dropped in their water catchment. A tonne of 1080 poison bait contains only 1.5 kg of 1080, but it is the lethal dose for 7,000 average humans” Dr Barr said. “It is unbelievable that medical professionals should be contemplating allowing this poison bait to be dropped in public water supply areas.”
“The pellets scattered in Hagley Park, if they had been 1080 bait, which they were not, may have killed a few dogs. But the bait DOC and regional councils intend dropping in public water supplies may have major adverse repercussions on public health. The media should not be tolerating these "experiments".

“In the USA 1080 is listed as a weapon of mass destruction because of its enormous killing power, and is recognised as an endocrine disruptor. Where is the news media when government is introducing a new policy of routinely poisoning public water supply areas?” Dr Barr said.

A table of the lethal dose (Lethal dose killing 50% of the population) for the standard 0.15% 1080 bait at the standard possum rate of 3 Kg/Ha, for different species is attached, based on international toxicity assessments.

New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association Incorporated (NZDA) is the national body of recreational deerstalkers and other big game hunters. We have 54 branches and hunting member clubs throughout New Zealand. We have 7200 members, and have been actively advocating for recreational deerstalking and hunting, running hunter training courses, trips, conferences etc since 1937. We maintain ethical standards for hunting.

ENDS

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