The Department of Conservation has been given approval to drop 1080- and Pindone-poisoned cereal and carrots on 37,000ha of land in the upper Waitaki Valley, Mackenzie Basin and Aoraki-Mt Cook National Park.
The aerial operations to control rabbits can be carried out during the 10-year term of a resource consent that has been issued by Environment Canterbury (Ecan).
The consent was granted after a hearing in May.
Three submitters, including the New Zealand Defence Force and Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society, supported the consent, while 12, including some vociferous critics of 1080 poison, opposed it.
The aerial operations will be over public conservation land up to an altitude of 1000m and are covered by strict conditions, including monitoring the use of poison near waterways.
The hearing was conducted by commissioner Barry Loe, appointed by Ecan.
The department told Mr Loe the application was for discharge of 1080 and Pindone on to land, not about whether 1080 poison should be used.
The Environmental Risk Management Authority had reassessed the use of 1080 poison in 2006 and approved it.
The consent was required to discharge the poison to land where it might enter water.
Five witnesses were called by the department to present its case.
In his decision, Mr Loe said information on the effects of 1080 on the environment far exceeded that about Pindone.
However, the potential effects of both poisons appeared about equivalent.
There would be significant benefits to flora and fauna from maintaining low rabbit populations in the area.
While there might be some adverse effects, those on water quality would be minor with potentially some adverse effects on birds and riverbed habitats.
These could be minimised by the timing of operations and monitoring, with use of adaptive management by the department.
