Waikato Regional Council Permits Poisoning of Waterways to Kill Deer …

… Healthy Rivers Wai Ora …

A massive collaboration process has taken place over the last three years to clean up the Waikato, and Waipa river catchments in the Waikato Region of New Zealand. To make them “swimmable”.

Waikato Regional Council has championed the project from the get-go, back in 2013. The idea is to place tighter restrictions on private land use, and reduce pollution to the waterways by monitoring both direct and indirect pollutant discharges. The targeted contaminants are Nutrients (N & P), sediments, and E Coli.

It has been suggested that farmers and property owners will have to fork out over 500 million dollars to implement the policies, over time. Stakeholders involved with the round-table meetings have reportedly included Fonterra, Dairy NZ, Beef & Lamb, energy companies, and many more. The dream is big and it’s bold, but does it go far enough?

This video https://youtu.be/CKBHIop0riw released by New Zealand film makers Clyde and Steve Graf appears to provide strong evidence that 1080 poison baits (a deadly pesticide made in America) are cast across forests and directly into forests streams in the Waikato Region. And to top it off, it is implied that the Council that is leading the Healthy Rivers – Wai Ora project, is the same Council that writes the permits that allow the aerial poison discharges to take place, and directly into water – running water.

The video also highlights contradictions within the Ministry for Primary Industries. MPI, as it’s known in New Zealand, is shown making a public plea on TV One News for all New Zealanders to stand up against animal cruelty, and to inform MPI if they should encounter it.

However, 1080 poison, which is known to be a cruel and protracted killer, is imported into New Zealand and manufactured into bait by a company called Animal Control Products. The company is a State Owned Enterprise, and one of the two listed shareholders is the Minister for Primary Industries.

But I think one of the more disturbing pieces of footage in the video clip is that of the local Lake Taupo Farmer, Lance Aldridge. His anguish is seen itched into his face and heard in his voice. He states he is required to farm among the carcasses of poisoned deer laying on and around his property. The carcasses are “eco toxic”, and “a single poisoned mouse may contain enough 1080 to kill an adult dog” the poison label states.

There is no way of knowing where poisoned rats, possums, pigs or deer may be laying. “So you think you’re safe, you’re out in the paddock wandering along with your dogs, mustering, and you need to muster this stuff with dogs … and especially this time of year” Aldridge states. It’s an on-going risk, that can last for months. “Health and safety, and all that”.

In an easy walk around his farm he shows and tells Waikato Regional Councillors of the impacts that result from the Council permits to discharge the poison.

But it gets worse. It is demonstrated that the poisoned animals are left in the forests and waterways to decompose where they fall, despite the data label stating that “the bodies of all poisoned animals should be collected and destroyed by complete burning or deep burial at a landfill approved for hazardous substances.” The video also claims that mountain streams can be contaminated with E Coli for many months following the aerial application of poison bait.

And so, the contradiction is clear, the Healthy Rivers – Wai Ora project sounds good and looks good on the surface, but venture into the forests of New Zealand and into the headwaters of the rivers and streams that are being targeted for a clean-up, and a toxic legacy is being created for the generations to come.
Nigel Wayne – TV Wild