Dear Minister
Please could you provide information held by you, your advisors, and/or Treasury to show:
A) what information was provided to you and/or to treasury by or on behalf of DoC in support of the allocation of extra funds this year for
(i) aerially poisoning much of New Zealand and
(ii) providing extra security for DoC and its staff
B) what analysis was done about the cause or suspected cause of the increased reported threats to DoC staff
C) what consideration was given to alternative ways of managing or avoiding threats to DoC staff including for example:
i) understanding why the public has become so frustrated with DoC,
ii) improving consultation and engagement with stakeholders;
iii) reviewing the policy of aerially spreading deadly poison baits over land, forest, water courses etc despite the high level of bykill of wildlife, dogs, farmed stock, and the suspected poisoning of people, and
iv) reviewing compliance or otherwise with ERMA and EPA requirements, conditions and recommendations for the ongoing use of 1080 and other VTAs and with MPI/Food Safety withholding requirements etc and ACVM conditions of registration and mandatory requirements on the approved deadly poison label;
v) reviewing compliance of claims/ propaganda by DoC and its compliance with the Fair Trading Act;) Reviewing the economic risk to New Zealand of the aerial use of 1080 and or other poisons due to threats to NZs international reputation, food safety, tourism industry and/or the obvious conflict with our “Clean Green” image;
vii) Reviewing the relative risk for DoC staff including of physical assault and specific threats to individuals CF the risk to other public servants, hospital staff (see link below)
VIII) what if any consideration has been given to a shift away from John Keys xenophobic Predator Free 2050 strategy which creates an unwinnable war on nature to a more compassionate approach that works with nature, and which reflects that if you change an ecosystem you select for the fastest adapters- which are typically fungi, cockroaches and rats.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12249704
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/health/105417324/increase-in-abuse-assaults-on-hospital-staff
Thank you for your assistance.
Kind regards
Sue Grey LLB(Hons), BSc, RSHDipPHI