Radio New Zealand

The drop is part of a strategy will target a plague of rats and possums threatening native species in the ranges.

It will be made in three stages over two weeks, starting today with non-toxic bait to get the pests used to it, and the poison will follow in about a week.

Auckland Council said a total of about 50 tonnes of bait would be dropped over 21,500 hectares.

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Auckland City Council

Auckland Council's planned pest control operation in the Hunua Ranges, surrounding reserve land and some private land, is close to getting underway.

From next week, the operational team will be closely watching the weather forecast to determine an optimal weather ‘window’ for the first stage of the operation.

MEDIA RELEASE
Monday 20 July, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Pest Control Education Trust, a joint Federated Farmers and Forest & Bird initiative, today released ‘1080: The Facts’, a resource created to increase public understanding of 1080 and how it is used.

The fact sheet is an illustrated, easy-to-read rundown on which predators are targeted by 1080 and the native species that benefit from its use, and how using 1080 prevents the spread of bovine tuberculosis. It also outlines the precautions taken to ensure 1080 operations are safe.

Auckland City Council

About the programme
In late winter this year (July/August), 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate) will be aerially applied to around 21,500 hectares of parkland in the Hunua Ranges area, including Waharau and Whakatiwai regional parks and the Department of Conservation (DOC) administered Mangatawhiri Forest Conservation Area and Vining Scenic Reserve. A highly accurate satellite navigation system (GPS) and custom-designed bait applicators will be used to distribute the 1080 bait and ensure pellets are not spread outside the operational boundary or over excluded areas. Epro Ltd, an experienced pest control contractor will be used to carry out this work.

Otago Daily Times
The Department of Conservation says it will "carefully manage" the cereal bait laced with 1080 poison intended for the postponed Makarora "battle for our birds" operation.

Anti-1080 campaigners have suggested the bait was likely to deteriorate because of the delay until spring or early summer, and could be dumped.

Wanaka conservation services manager Chris Sydney said yesterday Doc" carefully manages the purchase and use of 1080 bait " to make sure it was effective and to minimize waste.

The palatability and toxicity of 1080 cereal pellets started to "measurably decline" about three months after manufacture, he said.

Otago Daily Times
The focus of the postponed aerial 1080 poisoning operation around Makarora appears to have shifted, from rats and mice to possums.

In emailed responses to Otago Daily Times questions this week, Department of Conservation spokeswoman Annette Grieve said the operation would primarily target possums "as rodent populations are likely to have crashed naturally through winter".

Asked for further explanation, Ms Grieve said no-one was available at short notice to answer questions.

While possums are predators of native birds, publicity at the launch of Doc's "battle for our birds" programme, in January 2014, was heavily focused on the effects of rodents and stoats.

Otago Daily Times
Snow has forced the Department of Conservation to postpone the Makarora part of its "Battle for our Birds" programme until spring.

Doc has been planning the aerial drop of 1080 poison on 23,000 ha of the Mt Aspiring National Park around Makarora since last year.

However, in a statement yesterday, Wanaka conservation services manager Chris Sydney said the operation was now scheduled for spring or early summer, with the exact date to be confirmed near the time.

Snow was given as the reason for the postponement.

Otago Daily Times

Possums are the main cause of bovine tuberculosis spreading between herds of cattle and deer, according to Operational Solutions for Primary Industries (OSPRI) which manages the $80 million per year TBfree programme on behalf of New Zealand farmers and the public.

Ospri Group manager new business Peter Alsop told The Otago Daily Times yesterday Tb infection in Possum's"causes about 70% of herd infections".

The remaining infections, he said, were caused by movement of cattle or deer with undetected Tb, but those infections were also likely to have initially been generated by infected wildlife.

Mr Alsop was responding to a suggestion from New Zealand First MP Richard Prosser the Tb problem in possums had been overstated and aerial drops of 1080 poison, targeting possums, were not needed.

NZ Herald

An enormous effort to save native birds from a tide of pests has delivered some promising results in the South Island, following 1080 drops across vast swathes of beech forest.

Despite rat populations reaching plague levels in some areas - on the back of a one-in-15-year beech seeding event last spring - tracking rates indicate rats and stoats were knocked down to undetectable or very low levels at most sites, giving much needed protection to vulnerable native birds and bats.

Over the past eight months, the Department of conservation has treated more than 600,000 hectares of priority conservation areas using aerial 1080 drops to control rats, possums and stoats as part of its coordinated programme dubbed the Battle for our Birds.

Department of Conservation

Over the last eight months DOC has treated more than 600,000 hectares of priority conservation areas using aerial 1080 to control rats, possums and stoats as part of its coordinated Battle for our Birds programme.

Poison bait stations and expanded trapping networks were also employed to combat the rising predator numbers fuelled by a once-in-15-year beech seeding event.