Company disappointed over discovery of 1080

Ospri has launched an investigation after 1080 bait was found on logging equipment in Berwick forest.

The inquiry into the incident at the weekend is ongoing, but the organisation said the machine was inside the drop-zone where the contractor was allowed to spread the toxin.

Forestry company Wenita said no workers were in the area at the time but it was "very disappointed" the incident had happened.

The aerial application of 1080 took place on Saturday and was part of Ospri's Tb-free possum control operation in Berwick Forest, inland from Dunedin.

It was undertaken by Contract Wild Animal Control, which subcontracted a helicopter company.

Ospri southern South Island programme manager Eric Chagnon said a member of the public later entered the block, found some bait on forestry equipment then posted their find on social media.

Mr Chagnon said Ospri sent its contractor back into the forest to investigate.

They found bait on the machine as reported but the piece of equipment was outside the exclusion zone, and inside the consented area where toxin was allowed to be applied, he said.

"The machinery was in the drop-zone."

The piece of machinery was under the forest canopy, not visible from the air, and the application of the 1080 had been done according to regulations and consents, he said.

Wenita Forest Products chief executive David Cormack said the 1080 was not dropped while workers were working in the forest.

"We've seen the comments on Facebook and we're very disappointed this situation has occurred.

"It wasn't our intention, and we're working with Ospri to find out what went wrong and avoid something like this happening again."