Latest News (28/1/11)
The application has been granted.
Resource Consent Application, to Aerial Drop 16.5 tonnes of Brodifacoum on Shakespeare Park Open Sanctuary, Whangaparaoa Peninsula
The application has been granted, with conditions.
Our next step is to lodge an appeal to the Environment Court, (see attachment). Your support is needed. We'll keep you in touch.
Looks like another one of those done deals.
I can say without reservation that if this was a true independent hearing, with all the damming evidence that was submitted, there would be no way that this appalling method of pest eradication would be granted.
All of the "Recommended Conditions" have failed to take into account any of the environmental issue that were addressed by those in opposition to the proposed aerial application of brodifacoum, both on the land and in the sea.It is totally unacceptable and excessive to indiscriminately aerially drop between 8-10 million pellets of toxic bates on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, when there are clearly other safer options that should be explored and implemented.
All of the worldwide restrictions and health issues, from scientists including those from New Zealand, regarding the use of Brodifacoum are being totally ignored.
There is not enough is known about the short and long term ramifications of this type of rodent eradication programme, to humans, animals, birds and fish.
There has never been an in depth scientific study regarding these issues, including the effects this toxin has on the food chain.
Non of the issues that I and the other submitters brought to the commissioners attention were taken into consideration.
There is massive amount of scientific data showing that Brodifacoum is a highly lethal poison that should only be used in enclosed bait stations.
Brodifacoum is very persistent in the environment, in vertebrate tissues and poses a huge risk to non-target species.
Many species are at risk from both primary and secondary poisoning.
It is highly toxic to marine life, mammals and birds and is lethal to dogs. Has a poison transfer link between invertebrates and vertebrates and clearly enters the food chain.
It is toxic to all animal species as well humans, with carcinogenic factors, reproductive and developmental toxicity and neurotoxicity.
There is no scientific data anywhere that promotes the indiscriminate aerial use of this poison.
The application has been granted, with conditions.
Our next step is to lodge an appeal to the Environment Court, (see attachment). Your support is needed. We'll keep you in touch.
Looks like another one of those done deals.
I can say without reservation that if this was a true independent hearing, with all the damming evidence that was submitted, there would be no way that this appalling method of pest eradication would be granted.
All of the "Recommended Conditions" have failed to take into account any of the environmental issue that were addressed by those in opposition to the proposed aerial application of brodifacoum, both on the land and in the sea.It is totally unacceptable and excessive to indiscriminately aerially drop between 8-10 million pellets of toxic bates on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, when there are clearly other safer options that should be explored and implemented.
All of the worldwide restrictions and health issues, from scientists including those from New Zealand, regarding the use of Brodifacoum are being totally ignored.
There is not enough is known about the short and long term ramifications of this type of rodent eradication programme, to humans, animals, birds and fish.
There has never been an in depth scientific study regarding these issues, including the effects this toxin has on the food chain.
Non of the issues that I and the other submitters brought to the commissioners attention were taken into consideration.
There is massive amount of scientific data showing that Brodifacoum is a highly lethal poison that should only be used in enclosed bait stations.
Brodifacoum is very persistent in the environment, in vertebrate tissues and poses a huge risk to non-target species.
Many species are at risk from both primary and secondary poisoning.
It is highly toxic to marine life, mammals and birds and is lethal to dogs. Has a poison transfer link between invertebrates and vertebrates and clearly enters the food chain.
It is toxic to all animal species as well humans, with carcinogenic factors, reproductive and developmental toxicity and neurotoxicity.
There is no scientific data anywhere that promotes the indiscriminate aerial use of this poison.
| Shakespeare Park Decision, Covering letter |
| Shakespeare Park Full Decision, PDF |
At the adjournment of the Shakespear Open Sanctuary hearing, (14th December), the commissioners requested the applicant supply, without prejudice, a set of suggested conditions to the committee secretary for distribution to those submitters who appeared at the hearing to speak.
This was my email reply:-
All of the "Recommended Conditions" have failed to take into account any of the environmental issue that were addressed by those in opposition to the proposed aerial application of brodifacoum, both on the land and in the sea.
I therefore have had no other option than to reject all the changes.
It is totally unacceptable and excessive to indiscriminately aerially drop between 8-10 million pellets of toxic bates on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, when there are clearly other safer options that should be explored and implemented.
I am concerned that the worldwide restrictions and health issues, from scientists including those from New Zealand, regarding the use of Brodifacoum are being totally ignored.
There is not enough is known about the short and long term ramifications of this type of rodent eradication programme, to humans, animals, birds and fish.
There has never been an in depth scientific study regarding these issues, including the effects this toxin has on the food chain.
Please address the issues that I and the other submitters have brought to your attention so that we can have a dialog that takes into consideration our concerns.
Yours sincerely
Paul Cohen
This was my email reply:-
All of the "Recommended Conditions" have failed to take into account any of the environmental issue that were addressed by those in opposition to the proposed aerial application of brodifacoum, both on the land and in the sea.
I therefore have had no other option than to reject all the changes.
It is totally unacceptable and excessive to indiscriminately aerially drop between 8-10 million pellets of toxic bates on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, when there are clearly other safer options that should be explored and implemented.
I am concerned that the worldwide restrictions and health issues, from scientists including those from New Zealand, regarding the use of Brodifacoum are being totally ignored.
There is not enough is known about the short and long term ramifications of this type of rodent eradication programme, to humans, animals, birds and fish.
There has never been an in depth scientific study regarding these issues, including the effects this toxin has on the food chain.
Please address the issues that I and the other submitters have brought to your attention so that we can have a dialog that takes into consideration our concerns.
Yours sincerely
Paul Cohen
SHAKESPEARE OPEN SANCTUARY (SOS), WHANGAPARAOA PENINSULA PROPOSED AERIAL BRODIFACOUM DROP
The Commissioners Hearing was 13/14 December
We presented many compelling facts, and it’s my view that a totally unbiased independent panel would decline the application in its entirety.
The Councils Proposal
Is to aerially dump 16.5 tonnes of brodifacoum to air, land, water and coastal marine area of SOS, in order to eradicate the rodents.
This equates to between approximately 8 – 10 million pellets.
No other country in the world is doing anything similar to this.
Proposed dates for the drop is 1 June to 31 October 2011, in three stages two weeks apart.
The Accident and Emergency Centre at Red Beach or local doctor will have Vitamin K, the antidote of brodifacoum to treat any person poisoned.
Shakespear Regional Park will be closed to public during the aerial bait application and for 120 days after bait application has been completed.
Below is an edited version of my submission
In short, it clearly identifies scientific data showing that Brodifacoum is a highly lethal poison that should only be used in enclosed bait stations.
Brodifacoum is very persistent in the environment, in vertebrate tissues and poses a huge risk to non-target species.
Many species are at risk from both primary and secondary poisoning.
It is highly toxic to marine life, mammals and birds and is lethal to dogs. Has a poison transfer link between invertebrates and vertebrates and clearly enters the food chain.
It is toxic to all animal species as well humans, with carcinogenic factors, reproductive and developmental toxicity and neurotoxicity.
There is no scientific data anywhere that promotes the indiscriminate aerial use of this poison.
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First, before I start I’d like to give you some background of how I became involved in the aerial poison issue.
I along with many other people became disturbed after last years aerial Brodifacoum drop on Rangitoto and Motutapu.
There were thousands of dead marine life, fish, penguins, dolphins and dogs post the drop.
The nagging question was, is this coincidental or in direct relationship to the poison Brodifacoum?
This is when I began my research, via the internet, speaking to scientists, and talking to people who had been fighting the application of aerial poisons for decades.
The more information I collated about aerial toxins, the more horrified I became.
I witnessed misrepresentation of these facts by authorities.
I came upon a lack of true honest open dialog
I became privy to stories that remain hidden from the general public.
I spoke to people who wanted to be involved and stand up against aerial poisoning, yet chose not to for of fear of retribution.
This was a huge wake up call for me.
I was compelled to do something about it. I wanted the truth to be known.
Yet I had no idea of the strength of the authorities and that I would be up against a system that was so unscrupulous and amoral.
I was shocked and appalled when I watched the documentary, “Poisoning Paradise” by the Graf brother.
I had no idea that the authorities could get away with this barbaric form of pest eradication.
From my perspective this documentary informed me of the many aspects that the authorities didn’t want us to see. These included the many negative causes of indiscriminate aerial poisoning.
TV 1 and TV 3 and Maori TV refuses to air this documentary for fear of litigation.
Yet it has won awards in Europe.
It was also available free to view on Ziln.co.nz, and had an astonishing 20,000 views in the first 3 weeks.
I believe the public has a right to know all the facts.
There is a massive amount of data from sources in New Zealand and worldwide that clearly identifies Brodifacoum affecting marine life.
_________________________________________________________________________
http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.douri=OJ:L:2010:037:0044:01:EN:HTML
“It identified risks of brodifacoum and its characteristics, which render it potentially persistent, liable to bioaccumulate and toxic, or very persistent and very liable to bioaccumulate”. Because of the known persistence of Brodifacoum in the environment, pet suppliers harvesting rabbits from an area that has toxic Brodifacoum, are not able to harvest the rabbits for 3 years.
Insoluble means incapable of being dissolved. And biodegrades means to be decomposed by bacteria and other living organisms.
Bacteria and living organisms are at the lower end of the food chain.
The World Health Organisation (WHO), states, "Brodifacoum is toxic to aquatic wildlife. Avoid accidental contamination of water". FACT. http://www.who.int/whopes/quality/en/Brodifacoum.pdf page 12.
Furthermore they advocate the use of Brodifacoum only in bait stations.
There is a continual misrepresentation by authorities regarding poisons used aerially, including Mike Lee’s in Waiheke Islands, Waiheke Market Place, 16th September 2009, written by Dianna Worthy,
Mike Lee says “he agrees with DOC that Brodifacoum is not harmful to marine life”.
I believe that our elected councillors have responsibility to communicate the truth and not portray misleading facts. Portraying Brodifacoum in this way is morally wrong.
The New Zealand Dotterel is identified as being a critically endangered bird species at risk of mortality from the proposed application of Brodifacoum.
Sandhoppers collected from Tawharanui beaches tested positive to Brodifacoum.
Invertebrates such as sandhoppers along with shellfish scavenge sediments from the sea bed, both plant and animal debris. Some are filter feeders. They are food for fish and crabs, as well as birds.
Although Brodifacoum may not toxic to invertebrates, because they lack the blood clotting systems of vertebrates, they are therefore certain carriers of this poison. Proving the poison transfer link between invertebrates and vertebrates, and that Brodifacoum does enter the food chain.
This poses a huge risk to the Coastal Marine Area.
Waiheke Islands, Waiheke Market Place, 16th September 2009, a week after my visit to Rangitoto and Motutapu.
It says Rangers made a visit shortly after the drop to check roofs near disconnected water tanks were clear of pellets and that paths had been cleared.
The photographic evidence that I presented clearly shows these pellets and the dangers they present, (see photo’s below).
Auckland Area manager Mr Butland futher says.
“the department, (DoC), was given a good opportunity to test the poison’s safety in the sea when 18 tons of it was spilt into the sea in Kaikoura after a lorry crash some years ago”
“Environment Canterbury did a study and only local shellfish was affected – no dolphin” The implication here was that there was no real health issue.
He fails to mention that shellfish are part of our food supply.
He also failed to mention that the samples of mussels and paua taken from the immediate location retained measurable residues for up to 31 months.
University of Auckland 2003
Aspects of the ecology of forest invertebrates and the use of Brodifacoum
http://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/handle/2292/316?show=full
The toxin is persistent in vertebrate tissues, and there has been increasing concern recently about the potential for secondary poisoning of threatened insectivorous bird species via invertebrates that have fed on bait containing brodifacoum.
This thesis studied relevant aspects of the ecology of forest invertebrates and the use of brodifacoum bait at Trounson Kauri Park, Katui Scenic Reserve and Wenderholm Regional Park, North Island, New Zealand.
Video recording equipment was used to monitor invertebrate activity at bait stations, revealing that weta (Orthoptera) and cockroaches (Blattodea) were significant users of bait stations loaded with brodifacoum bait.
Weta, cockroaches, beetles and other miscellaneous invertebrate species recorded significant residues of brodifacoum (up to 7.47 µg/g).
A risk assessment was made exploring the potential for invertebrates to secondarily poison insectivorous bird species. This found that bird species that consume substantial numbers of weta, cockroaches and beetles (eg. kiwi (Apteryx spp), ruru (Ninox novaeseelandiae) and robin (Petroica australis)) are at risk of secondary poisoning from their food supply during pest control operations using brodifacoum.
DoC states: “The major disadvantage of brodifacoum is the persistence of brodifacoum residues after both primary and secondary poisoning. Trails with captive pigs have shown that brodifacoum accumulates in the liver and, to a lesser extent the muscle... it is important to remember that a much lower sub-lethal dose will produce significant clotting abnormalities and some hemorrhaging. Predatory and scavenging birds such as morepork, weka, southern black backed gull and the Australasian harrier are at risk from secondary poisoning. DOC no longer uses brodifacoum widely on the mainland because of concerns about residues accumulating in non-target species”
http://www.oceanaware.info/brodifacoum.html
This is from a commercial pest controller in the UK: http://www.thepiedpiper.com/
“Brodifacoum is a weak acid which does not readily form water soluble salts (nearly insoluble in water). It does not loose activity after 30 days in direct sunlight. Commercial formulations are stable (active in the environment) for at least 2 years if protected from extreme temperatures and sunlight.... the modern 2nd generation anticoagulant rodenticides such as brodifacoum have proved severe secondary poisoning properties” … “Brodifacoum is persistent in soils and has a half life of 157 days.... Very highly toxic to aquatic organisms, mammals and birds”
Micro-organisms in Foods 6
Microbial ecology of food commodities
edited by International Commission on Microbiological Specifications for Foods
Aquatic toxins. In recent years, seafood toxins have been responsible for 30% of all seafood-borne outbreaks of illness in the US
SURVIVAL OF BROWN KIWI EXPOSED TO BRODIFACOUM POISON IN NORTHLAND, NEW ZEALAND: H.A Robertson et. al. NZ Journal of Ecology #23.
http://www.nzes.org.nz/nzje/free_issues/NZJEcol23_2_225.pdf
This data was recorded 18 months after the use of brodifacoum 3 of the 4 kiwi chicks that died contained traces of brodifacoum. The paper discusses the bioaccumulation of the toxin and concluded that the sustained effects of long term exposure may not be visible in the adult pop for several years. “the chicks somehow came into contact with the toxin. They may have fed on baits or fed on invertebrates, (remember this is 18 months later) that had ingested the poison”
DOC on brodifacoum:
Needs to be used in properly controlled bait stations... brodifacoum should be limited to bait station control to avoid contamination of water.
Brodifacoum residues have been found in wild venison and pork.
Brodifacoum can deliver lethal amounts to dogs through secondary poisoning.
Metabolism: brodifacoum is retained in the tissues at high rates, sometimes remaining in organ systems during the entire lifetime of an exposed animal. In a study that measured the retention of radioactive brodifacoum in the livers of single-dosed rats, 34% of the single dose is found in the liver after 13 weeks, and 11% of the dose remained in the liver for 104 weeks, approaching the normal lifespan of a rat (U.S. EPA MRID 42007502).
https://www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/policy/toxins/Profiles/brodifacoum.html
After aerial dumping of Brodifacoum Tiritiri Matangi Island more than 90% of pukeko were killed . Some introduced ground-feeding bird species such as brown quail, blackbirds, house sparrows, and common mynahs were also decimated.
Veterinary Pathology
Brodifacoum Toxicosis in Two Neonatal Puppies
J. S. Munday and L. J. Thompson (USA)
http://vet.sagepub.com/content/40/2/216.full
Eight out of a litter of 13 puppies were either born dead or died within 48 hours of birth.
Brodifacoum was detected in livers from the two puppies with hemorrhage.
The dam had no clinical signs of coagulopathy before or subsequent to whelping. The owners were confident that the dog had not been exposed to rodenticide for at least 4 weeks before whelping.
To the authors' knowledge this is the first time a second-generation anticoagulant has been detected in the liver of a newborn animal.
This case is also unique because the dam was unaffected, suggesting that fetuses are more susceptible to brodifacoum toxicity than adult animals.
Also unique because no symptoms of bleeding were observed in the bitch during gestation.
It was most likely that the dam ingested brodifacoum during the first 3 weeks of gestation.
The majority of the information regarding anticoagulants in pregnancy is derived from the use of warfarin to prevent pulmonary embolism in pregnant women.
Although an effective anticoagulant, warfarin was found to readily cross the placenta and administration during pregnancy decreased mean birth weight and resulted in abortion, stillbirth, or neonatal death in 17% to 36%of patients.
Although the dam was asymptomatic, it appears that the quantity of rodenticide that she ingested was sufficient to decrease the activation of vitamin K–dependent coagulation factors in the fetus. The puppies then developed fatal hemorrhage as a result of trauma during birth and the neonatal period. This suggests that fetuses are more susceptible to brodifacoum toxicity than adult animals.
It appears that the amount of brodifacoum required to be ingested to cause fetal coagulopathy is less than the amount required to cause coagulopathy in an adult dog.
Fetal warfarin syndrome
The primary cause is the result from exposure of the unborn child to toxins, poisons, drugs and/or other substances.
Brodifacaoum is 100 times more potent than Warfarin.
www.wrongdiagnosis.com/
Puketi Forest Trust, Bay of Islands
http://www.puketi.org.nz/ The trust appalled at the idea of aerial poison. Refused to be part of the indiscriminate use of aerial poisons.
http://www.puketi.org.nz/pests.html
Since 2003 with trapping the Trust’s focus has been on the eradication of cats and mustelids from 5500 ha in Puketi Forest (called the 'management area') and the removal of rats from a 650 ha core area within this.
This is being undertaken using traps and contractors and has the goal of maintaining pest numbers at less than 5% tracking for all species. These traps are baited with salted possum meat or eggs.
Rat traps are baited with peanut butter or chocolate buttons.
As well as stoats and cats, a number of weasels, ferrets, rats, hedgehogs and possums are caught in the stoat and cat traps. Some mice and the occasional stoat are caught in the rat traps.
Accidental casualties among non-target animals are a concern in any pest control operation. Stoat and rat traps are contained within boxes to prevent access by birds. Cat traps are mounted on tree trunks above kiwi reach. To date there has only been one non-target casualty, a kingfisher caught in a cat trap. This compares very favourably with estimated rates of secondary poisoning in operations using poison. No domestic cats have been caught.
The Trust has the view that trapping is less expensive than poison in the long term, and the problem of poisoning of non-target species is also avoided.
I was told last year that ongoing expenses would cost appox $17 a hectare to maintain the les than 5% threshold.
Reliable contractors have been engaged to service the traps, and to the end of July 2009 more than 11,000 pests have been removed.
The trust has re-introduced locally extinct wildlife, with a female kokako returned to the forest in November 2008 and 30 North Island robins (toutouwai) transferred in June 2009, and April this year, (2010), a second release of North Island robins went like clockwork over Easter weekend.
The National Party and the Greens have teamed up to launch a trial of self-resetting traps to help save New Zealand's native species.
http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/self-resetting-pest-traps-hope-save-money-3840058/video
These traps use no poison and are self-resetting.
The initial cost is more yet $16 a year to maintain as opposed to $96 to maintain for the older wooden version.
My concluding statement
Lets work towards more humane ways of dealing with our rodent problem.
We will then be able to be open and transparent.
This will negate the need for heavy handed pressure and untruths from councilors and the DoC, so the people like Brett Butland will not have to lie on TV saying that DoC have tested penguins from Rangitoto and Motutapu when they haven’t.
I am appalled that our so-called developed country, who pride ourselves to the rest of the world as being 100% Pure, indiscriminately discharges toxic poisons in and around New Zealand.
I am more appalled that the organizations who advocate the practice of aerial poisons, hide the damaging affects from the public, making it out to be all good by continually feeding us with an array of distortion facts.
I am disturbed by the pressure our media, including our so called independent media receives from the Department of Conservation.
Which means that many of the important facts remain hidden.
There is no denying the surface success stories. Yet the devastation that is causes to get to this place, should be a concern to us, along with the long term environmental ramifications of the over use of Brodifacoum and other poisons.
Shakespear Park will be subject to 8-10 million pellets of bait, this is an unacceptable amount of poison.
And I am deeply saddened by certain powers and local authorities who continue to allow these toxins to be aerially dumped in and around New Zealand.
This is not just an issue for the Shakespeare Park. This is an important issue for the whole of New Zealand.
We have an opportunity here to look at more humane ways to deal with unwanted rodents and possums.
Something we can all be truly proud of. That satisfies both the applicant and those who oppose the application.
Let the “Precaution Principle” prevail and turn this application down.
I ask you to turn down this application because of the poor communication within the application of the known facts.
PAN, Pesticide Action Network, states, “Brodifacoum is toxic to humans, with carcinogenic factors, reproductive and developmental toxicity and neurotoxicity. These toxic affects are not limited to just humans, they include all animal species as well as aquatic organisms.”
You have the power to stop this and to recommend that alternatives are looked at.
I ask you to take your position of responsibility seriously.
Do not be pressurised by the powers around you, whoever they may be.
For you, your children and your children’s children, do what is environmentally right and turn down this application.
End
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Please support us by sending an email submission opposing the drop
Click here
/shakespeare-park-drop-opposition-e-mail-submission.html
