Bid to stop tonnes of 1080 being dropped in Auckland's Hunua ranges fails

Friday, 21 September 2018

Auckland Council welcomed the Environment Court's decisions to drop 1080 in the Hunua Ranges.

A bid to stop a planned 1080 drop on Auckland's Hunua Ranges and its surrounding area has failed.

In an Environment Court judgement released on Friday, Judge Melanie Harland said she didn't believe there would be 'serious harm' to the environment if the poison was distributed throughout the area.

She said the current interim order, temporarily halting drop plans, would expire at 5pm on Friday.

The Friends of Sherwood Trust brought the injunction on September 6, with the aim of stopping the Auckland Council and Department of Conservation-planned drop altogether.

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Sodium Fluoroacetate, typically called 1080, is effective at killing possums, but is also used for rats, mice, stoats and rabbits.

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The judgement gave the green light for the drop to go ahead as planned in the Hunua Ranges Regional Parklands, Whakatiwai and Waharau – collectively referred to as Kohukohunui.

The poison would also be dropped on nearby private land where landowners have given permission.

Friends of Sherwood trustee Tricia Cheel the decision was 'absolutely disgraceful'.

'The Environment Court didn't consider all of the evidence and we don't feel like we were given a fair hearing.'

Cheel was on her was to the Hight Court at 4.30pm with the aim of fighting the decision and further extending the interim order.

Auckland Council said it welcomed the court's decision.

'This operation is vital to protect biodiversity in Kohukohunui,' said Mace Ward, Auckland Council general manager parks, sport and recreation.

'We are now looking at plans to commence the operation soon, as weather permits.'

1080, or sodium fluoroacetate, is a plant-based toxin used as a vertebrate toxin agent, and is effective at killing possums, but is also used to rid areas of rats, mice, stoats and rabbits.

It does this by interfering with a mammal's metabolism, which leads to breathing problems and death by heart and central nervous system failure.