Helen Lewis organised the local leg of "Hikoi of a Poisoned Nation"; a simultaneous double hikoi to Parliament from Bluff and Cape Reinga, organised by Alan Gurden and Emille Leaf.
Ms Lewis has walked some 100km of the southern hikoi with Mr Gurden, who has been joined by about two dozen people on his walk through Luggate and the West Coast.
Ms Lewis said she did not agree with the argument for using the controversial toxin to control nonindigenous pest numbers including possums, rats and stoats.
"It kills every living thing and it’s a horrible death," she said.
"And it’s the rats that come back first within four months, and within two years they’re three times the numbers, so you’re not doing much with 1080."
Ms Lewis said 1080 was also used too close to waterways and animals killed by it were not disposed of properly, contravening manufacturers’ guidelines.
Queenstown’s hikoi route was 7km from the Memorial Gates in Marine Parade to Queenstown Airport. Ms Lewis said the walkers made it about 5km of the way, and will complete the walk next week.
The protesters aim to reach Wellington on September 8. The Department of Conservation website states monitoring data "show that aerial 1080 operations are effective at protecting our native species, returning birdsong to our wild spaces and increasing reptile populations".
It states 80% of New Zealand bird species are at risk of extinction. Bait, consisting of 0.15% 1080, is dropped from helicopters. Doc claims it is the "only method" to control a pest boom over vast and rugged terrain.
"Doc relies on an abundance of independent, scientific research reviewed by external agencies to ensure we keep people and the environment safe," the website reads.
The common name used for sodium fluoroacetate is 1080.
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Comments
If they imagine that theirs is a 'popular movement', this turnout should make it clear it is not. Great to see the article add the balance, about DOC management policy being informed by the science, and encouraged by the monitored results. Certain people are known to make a living from producing negative propaganda about this subject though, the Interweb is awash with it, so there will always be some drawn along with it. A uniquely NZ social phenomenon, that will one day be just an artefact of our history.