Question
In 1986 the Ministry for the Environment was set up to look after environmental issues and planning.
Parks, reserves, rivers, lakes and native wildlife are cared for by the Department of Conservation, set up in
1987.
They:
encourage New Zealanders to get involved in conservation and to get out and enjoy activities on
conservation land
•protect New Zealand's native plants, animals and habitats
look atter tracks, tramping huts and campgrounds on conservation land
•provide information for visitors to conservation land and manage visitor bookings
•
work with businesses, community groups, iwi and others to help them get involved in
conservation
• coordinate and train conservation volunteers
•
manage permits and licences for hunters and fishers, and for companies that want to carry out
business on conservation land, eg kayaking tour groups
maintain and "bring back to life" some of New Zealand's historical areas and buildings
•promote the benefits of conservation.
DOC enforces laws that protect New Zealand's biodiversity and historic heritage, as well as the
Taupo Trout Fishery.
DOC has responsibilities under many laws to protect and preserve our unique species, environment
and heritage. These laws include offences for actions that can harm or affect conservation
resources.
DOC encourages and promotes compliance with the rules (laws). We recognise that most people
want to comply and do the right thing.
•
We also want everyone to be aware that illegal take, use or damage relating to New Zealand's
forests, waters and species is not okay.
DOC was formed in 1987 when the Conservation Act was passed to integrate conservation
management functions. This Act sets out the majority of DOC's responsibilities and roles.
DOC has a particular responsibility under section 4 of the Conservation Act to interpret and
administer the Act to give effect to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. This involves building
and supporting effective conservation partnerships with tangata when at the local level.
There is also specific legislation for such things as wildlife, reserves and national parks.
DOC administers 25 Acts of Parliament and contributes to others including the Resource
Management Act 1991, the Fisheries Acts 1983 and 1996, the Biosecurity Act 1993, the Forest and
Rural Fires Act 1977 and the Crown Pastoral Land Act 1998.
Conservation management and the work of DOC are characterised by a high level of public input.
Conservation legislation also establishes a hierarchy of conservation boards and the New Zealand
Conservation Authority, an independent body appointed by the Minister. The Authority has powers
to approve formal management plans binding the Department and also serves to advise the
Minister.
scale remote and difficult terrain. Alternative ground control methods are less effective or less efficient
and often too dangerous to consider for some operations because of difficult terrain.
Where DOC uses 1080, benefits have accrued. A recent example is the success of blue duck (whio) and kiwi
breeding in the Tongariro Forest.
The difference that 1080 is making to the survival of our native blue ducks is demonstrated in last year's
records of blue duck numbers where 1080 was applied.
On the Whanganui River where there was no 1080 application, chick survival to fledging was just 30
percent. On the Mangatepopo River, where 1080 was applied on one side of river, chick survival to fledging
was 36 percent. Compare this to the Whakapapa River, where both sides of the river were treated with
1080, and chick survival was exceptional with fledging at 88 percent. This contrasts hugely with previous
years productivity on the Whakapapa, when no pest control was undertaken - no chicks hatched or
fledged.
Example as Julers of logo wit
Kiwi too are trilling their approval of 1080. Stoats are a main agent of decline for kiwi because 95% of kiwi
chicks are killed by stoats in uncontrolled areas. The chance of surviving to a weight where it might defend
itself from stoat attack are slim at best for a kiwi chick. Following the 1080 pest control operation, kiwi
chick survival has skyrocketed in the monitored population to 64%. These findings add to our growing
understanding that a well executed aerial 1080 operation for possums allows a pulse of kiwi recruitment
into a population - plus benefits for other forest birds.
Environmental fate of 1080 is closely monitored
Ten Eighty is a simple organic molecule that can easily be manufactured but the active ingredient is a
naturally occurring browsing deterrent in more that 40 West Australian plants. Possums in New Zealand
come from the eastern seaboard of Australia and are more susceptible to the toxin, unlike their West
Australian cousins who are more resilient.
New Zealand uses a very high percentage of the world's synthetic production of 1080 because the target
pests are introduced mammals. New Zealand's lack of vulnerable native terrestrial mammals makes 1080 a
very good tool for native species protection. Other countries do not use 1080 to the same extent for pest
control, because 1080 is particularly toxic to their native mammals.
More than 2000 water samples over the last 16 years have been tested immediately after operations for
1080 residues as part of on-going monitoring. The Drinking Water Standards for New Zealand issued by the
Ministry of Health specify a Provisional Maximum Acceptable Value (PMAV) for 1080 in water of 3.5ppb.
This level is not considered to cause any significant risk of health to the consumer over a lifetime of
consumption. A figure of 2ppb is applied to testing water for 1080 as a further precautionary measure. Less
than 0.5% of all samples, has exceeded 2ppb and in all cases, only transiently before breakdown and
dilution reduce it to undetectable levels. No 1080 has ever been found in any drinking water. 1080 does
not accumulate in the environment. Tests to check the rate of breakdown of 1080 at colder temperatures
are continuing.
The use of 1080 has generated much misinformation about its use, fate in the environment and risks and
benefits. To ally people's concerns, the Department of Conservation and the Animal Health Board sought
to have the use of 1080 reassessed Environmental Risk Management Authority.
The process took a number of years from 2004- 2007, with generous public input and the final decision
from ERMA after a detailed analysis was that the benefits of the continued use of 1080 outweighed the
perceived risks. The Department has taken on board all of the recommendations from the ERMA
nerations and communitu rolatione around 1000 ace The birde and their
Answer
DOC was formed in 1987 to enforce laws that protect New Zealand's biodiversity and historic heritage, as well as the Taupo Trout Fishery. DOC encourages and promotes compliance with the rules (laws) and works with businesses, community groups, iwi and others to help them get involved in conservation. DOC administers 25 Acts of Parliament and contributes to others, including the Resource Management Act 1991, the Fisheries Acts 1983 and 1996, the Biosecurity Act 1993, the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977 and the Crown Pastoral Land Act 1998. DOC uses 1080 to protect native species, and environmental fate of 1080 is closely monitored. The Department of Conservation and the Animal Health Board sought to have the use of 1080 reassessed by the Environmental Risk Management Authority, and the final decision from ERMA was that the benefits of the continued use of 1080 outweighed the perceived risks.