KAKA Press Release

1080 – New Government, New Year, New Approach?

Karameans Advocating Kahurangi Action (KAKA), Kumara Environmental Action group (KEA) and like-minded anti-1080 groups would like to remind New Zealanders that in the lead-up to the recent elections, the National Party's political partners in the new Government (ACT, United Future and the Kiwi Party) each issued strong statements calling for an end to aerial 1080 programmes and the implementation of safe ground-based alternatives. KAKA and KEA remain hopeful that National's coalition partners will use their influence to achieve this outcome. We are also hopeful that the new Government, which has not yet been captured by senior bureaucracies like the Animal Health Board and the Department of Conservation, will take a much-needed new policy approach to 1080 and related pest-control issues. It would be extremely unfortunate if National, like previous administrations over the last 20 to 30 years, allows itself to be captured by senior bureaucrats and agencies like DOC and the AHB, who for years have simply advocated the status quo.

Also, we would hope that the responsible Ministers in the new Government are aware that the aforementioned bureaucracies are not above the provision of highly selective data and information, while smothering or concealing information that they themselves have commissioned, or have access to, that contradicts the advice given to successive Ministers since the 1980s.

As for the new Opposition we believe that a period on the sidelines will give these parties some much needed breathing space in order to review their current 1080 and pest-control policies and to adopt new, viable alternatives. Simply sticking with the failed policies of the past will do them no favours in the lead-up to the next round of national elections.

Regardless of developments on the national stage, KAKA and other anti-1080 groups will continue a vigorous public campaign to bring and end to the broad-scale, indiscriminate aerial use of 1080 in New Zealand so that we can promote our nation as a genuinely Clean/Green/100%Pure destination for international tourists and as a producer of top quality primary agricultural exports.

ENDS

www.kaka1080.co.nz

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