Stuff.co.nz

Kokako in the Hunua Ranges don't appear to have bred successfully during the 2014/15 season.

A population of endangered kokako in the Hunua Ranges near Auckland has suffered a serious blow due to rising pest numbers.

Results from the 2014/15 breeding season show no new chicks and four missing breeding pairs.

The results are much worse than expected, and high numbers of pests such as rats and stoats are to blame, Auckland Council said.

"This year's results are dismal with no fledging success at all and, of even greater concern, signs that adult birds have been lost," biodiversity manager Rachel Kelleher said.

* Environmental Protection Authority

Importers, laboratories and other workplaces holding 1080 are being advised by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) on how to comply with the extra controls introduced by the government last week.

Tighter controls on the high purity forms of sodium fluoroacetate (1080) have been introduced in response to the criminal threat to use 1080 to contaminate infant and other formula. The new controls apply to all workplaces and all laboratories, including those operating under the Hazardous Substances Exempt Laboratories Regulations.

The New Zealand Herald

The poison 1080 is "now the most tightly regulated toxic substance in New Zealand", Environment Minister Nick Smith says, following the emergency introduction of tighter rules following a threat against baby milk formula was revealed this week.

Previously there was an exemption for use of 1080 and other toxic substances like cyanide and arsenic in research laboratories, but the loop-hole was closed on Tuesday night after the government sought approval from the Governor-general to sign off the new regulations.

Hawkes Bay Today

Possum eradication using 1080 in Hawke's Bay is unlikely to be suspended because of anonymous threats to load infant formula with the poison if authorities don't stop the practice which has been in use for half-a-century.

Hawke's Bay Regional Council chairman Fenton Wilson, a northern Hawke's Bay farmer, says controlled 1080 use has been determined safe and effective, and its use should continue, unless something better is found.

Radio NZ

In a bid to combat wild dogs in Australia, the organics industry there is considering allowing 1080 to be used as bait on certified properties.

While 1080 is derived from plants, it is produced synthetically and not approved for organic livestock farmers to use.

But Australia's Invasive Animals Co-operative Research Centre is calling for that to change.

Helen Murdoch, Nelson Mail

Community pest volunteers monitoring rock wren in the Henderson Basin of Kahurangi National Park say the alpine bird's future depends on the aerial use of 1080.

Alec and Marian Milne, of Golden Bay's Friends of the Cobb, said they had been monitoring a Henderson Basin population of the endangered rock wren during week-long trips into Kahurangi National Park since 2000.

TBfree New Zealand (powered by OSPRI New Zealand)

The TBfree programme, managed by OSPRI, has completed extensive testing of the Blackball Township water supply. This follows the aerial application of 1080 bait for possum control over much of the water supply catchment last October.

TBfree Northern South Island Programme Manager Matt Hickson said that to alleviate concerns raised by the Blackball Residents Association Trust, management of the township's water supply was discussed with the Grey District Council. As a result of these discussions a robust, independent water testing and management schedule was implemented.

The Westport News

Of the 22 kea monitored during aerial 1080 operations in Kahurangi National Park last year, two have been killed by the poison, says Department of Conservation (DOC) Westport conservation services manager Bob Dickson.

The two kea were found dead in the Oparara Basin (western Kahurangi) following the 1080 aerial drop that occurred last November.

The Marlborough Express

New Conservation Minister Maggie Barry explains her stance on the use of 1080 poison to control predators on conservation land.

We are now engaged in a serious battle to save our native birds from eco-invaders.

Ridding New Zealand of Introduced pests is essential if we want to preserve our vulnerable birdlife and biodiversity. Kiwi, kea and whio (blue duck) and many iconic birds will be wiped out, unless we take effective action now.

Samantha Hayes, 3rd degree TV3

New Zealand's birds are facing a real threat of extinction, with many populations on the verge of flashing out due to exploding predator numbers.

Right now we're witnessing the biggest aerial drop of 1080 in our history. They're dropping poison on around 700,000 hectares of the country.

Of course there are plenty of people who think there's a better way to control pests.