Posted on 7-1-2003

Chemical Christmas
From Families for NonViolence,
PO Box 95-008, Swanson,
West Auckland,
New Zealand.

Posted on www.pl.net message board.

To Ian Gear,
Project Director - Painted Apple Moth, MAF Biosecurity
Authority, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, PO Box 2526, Wellington,
NEW ZEALAND

Dear Mr Gear,

This is an official complaint and it is to be treated as such.

On the 28th of December the area of Hobsonville, west Auckland, was sprayed
for the Painted Apple Moth. This is after the public had been informed by
the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, via news papers and MAF’s
official website, that there would be no aerial operations over the
Christmas and New Year public holidays; and that the next target day for a
general aerial operation was to be the 7th of January 2003-weather permitting.

There was no notice or warning for the aerial spraying of Hobsonville on
the 28th of December. In fact, a call to MAF’s official Spray Day
information line showed that not even MAF staff were aware of the spraying.
Any Radio advertising for the spraying would not have been heard, for MAF
has publicized that such advertising would only take place on official
spray days, and the 28th of December was not such a day.

MAF’s disclaimer to exclude any and all liability for responsibility for
any inaccuracy, error, omission, lateness or any other kind of inadequacy,
deficiency, or flaw in, or in relation to, any information, is insufficient
in a Democracy where the Government and it’s departments are supposed to be
responsible and accountable to the people. In fact, the Government and its
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry have gone outside true democracy with
its operation to eradicate the Painted Apple Moth. There has been
insufficient consultation with the community, a lack of openness with
information on the Foray 48B spray and denial of the magnitude of health
issues that have derived from the spraying.

There is evidence that counters the facts and propaganda presented by the
Ministry. As the aerial operation to eradicate the Painted Apple Moth has
only 60-80% of success, I ask that the Ministry stops this operation
immediately, re-evaluates and allows an independent enquiry.

I await receipt for this complaint and for notification of the complaint
procedure to be undertaken by your department. In the mean time we will be
taking further steps to bring more attention to the inadequacies in this
matter and to prohibit its continuation.

In peace.
Tim Tipene
Families for NonViolence