1080 Reassessment

Submission date: 31 January 2007
Submitted to: Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) New Zealand

Summary and recommendation

The New Zealand Conservation Authority (NZCA) fully supports the use of 1080 for the control of pest animals and recommends that the application be approved.

Reasons for support

Healthy ecosystems and habitats are critical to sustaining the creatures that live within and depend upon them.

Possums have adverse impacts on canopy trees and, together with rats and stoats, a pervasive effect on the ability of native birds to continue breeding successfully.

Realistically, aerial 1080 is the only method that can currently be used for effective pest control in remote and rugged country.

The possibility of by-kill of pest animals such as stoats is an additional benefit for conservation and biodiversity protection in the use of 1080.

Bird populations recover quickly with the removal of predators and competition for resources (The use of 1080 for pest control (2004) Green, W. Animal Health Board and the Department of Conservation).

1080 can be applied in small quantities accurately using global positioning systems.

Research by Regional Councils and Crown Research Institutes over many years has shown that 1080 breaks down readily in the environment.

Research into effective alternatives to 1080 is continuing but this goal is still in the future and continued access to 1080 is critical for the time being.

New Zealand’s unique biodiversity is internationally important. High percentages of the country’s indigenous species are endemic (found nowhere else on Earth). The uniqueness of many of New Zealand’s indigenous plants and animals means that responsibility for their continued existence is ours.

Identification of the NZCA

The New Zealand Conservation Authority (NZCA) is a statutory body established by section 6A of the Conservation Act 1987, and its members are appointed by the Minister of Conservation. Its functions are centred on policy and planning which impacts on the administration of public conservation areas managed by the Department of Conservation and the investigation of any conservation matter that it considers is of national importance.

Hearing attendance

The NZCA is pleased to have the opportunity to submit to this investigation which is of critical importance to the preservation of New Zealand’s native fauna and flora and New Zealand’s identity as a nation. The NZCA would like to be heard in support of its submission.