NZCA condemns attack on conservation board chairperson

NZCA condemns attack on conservation board chairperson

New Zealand Conservation Authority chairperson, Don Ross, said that he was horrified at the attack on Arthur Hinds, the Waikato Conservation Board chairperson.

“Arthur puts his heart and soul into saving our precious native species from predators. When volunteers who do so much to protect our birthright are brutally attacked in this way, what does it say for our society?” Don Ross said.

“Staff of the Department of Conservation are continually verbally attacked and threatened because they are trying to save our native species from introduced predators”, he said. “But they stay silent and just get on with the job.”

“I hope that there will be a groundswell of disapproval of such attacks, including from deer hunters who, despite being opposed to the use of 1080, need to distance themselves from the extreme behaviour of individuals.”

Don Ross advises people interested in informing themselves about the use of 1080 to read the recent independent report by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Jan Wright. “She has clearly identified that the benefits of the use of 1080 to protect our native species far outweigh any potential risk. The reality is that in our battle to save our native species, 1080 is a weapon we cannot currently do without” Don Ross said.

ENDS

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