A pest-culling operation on 12,500 ha north of Dunedin is aimed at decimating the possum population by poisoning and trapping.
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OSPRI has sent pamphlets to residents in the area informing them of the next stages of its work over the next two years.

Federated Farmers is mystified as to why people are still complaining about the use of 1080, long after it's been established as a key tool in New Zealand's environmental protection system.
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The Commissioner for the environment concluded five years ago that 1080 was the only viable tool for protection against pests on much of New Zealand's conservation land.

Two scheduled 1080 drops to combat bovine tuberculosis in southern Marlborough have been delayed.

The drops were planned to cover more than 25,000 hectares at Isolated Hill, near the Waima River, and at Kowhai-Swyncombe, near Kaikoura, and have been pushed back until late winter.

An aerial drop of toxic 1080 baits over about 3635ha at Isolated Hill was originally scheduled from May until June but will now take place in the next period of suitable fine weather, an Ospri TBfree spokeswoman said.
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The area has been pre-fed before the 1080 baits were due to be spread.

Lawrence's town water supply will undergo testing following a planned 1080 poison drop, as a result of strong public protest to an upcoming operation at the nearby Glendhu forest.
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At a public meeting at the South Otago town in April, a number of people were vocal in their concerns about the impact of the poison as a means of TB possum control with toxin sodium fluoroacetate - 1080, on water ways, people and animals, in the Glendhu recreational area.

The number of bovine tuberculosis (TB) infected foci has dropped below 40 for the first time in the history of New Zealand's TBfree programme delivered by OSPRI. According to this week's figures, an all-time low of 36 herds were infected with bovine TB (34 cattle and two deer herds).

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.

Nelson Marlborough
Michael Bennett Regional Advisor, Federated Farmers NZ

One of the more controversial issues that Federated Farmers deals with is the use of 1080 to control possums and other pests.

Some in New Zealand maintain that the price to be paid from using 1080 is too high, and that we should only use tools such as focused hunting and trapping programmes or traceability to control possums and other pests. Despite this, there is an accumulation of evidence that not only is there no other way to secure the livelihood of farmers and protect our bush, but also that 1080 is relatively safe to people and minimal impacts on non-target species with modern practice.