Government Minister goes troppo over council’s poison plans

Government Minister and United Future leader Peter Dunne has attacked the Wellington City Council and Kaori Wildlife Sanctury’s plan to poison Zealandia’s upper lake and streams with Rotenone.

“Zealandia’s proposed rotenone poisoning of the upper lake and tributaries of the Karori wildlife sanctuary is quite literally “short-sighted, ideologically driven extremism”, UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne said today.

“The fact that Zealandia – with the backing of DoC and Wellington City Council – is poised to flush a waterway system with rotenone within the city boundaries in the name of conservation is almost beyond belief,” said Mr Dunne.

“To poison a lake and all of its tributaries in order to kill some introduced trout, which most people see as a positive recreational resource, just because they are an exotic species is just crazy.”

“The fact is not only will the trout be exterminated but so will everything that lives in those waterways.”

“Why don’t Zealandia and the Wellington City Council develop the lakes for families and kids to go fishing?”

Rotenone is classified by the World Health Organization as moderately hazardous. It is mildly toxic to humans and other mammals, but extremely toxic to insects and aquatic life including fish. The lowest lethal dose for a child is 143 mg/kg. Human deaths attributed to Rotenone are rare because its irritating action causes vomiting. Deliberate ingestion of rotenone can be fatal.  The compound breaks down when exposed to sunlight and usually has a short lifetime of six days in the environment. In water rotenone may last six months. 

Rotenone is classified by the USDA National Organic Program as a nonsynthetic and was allowed to be used to grow organic produce until 2005, when it was added to the list of prohibited substances due to concerns about its safety. However, it has since been re-approved.

Peter Dunne says that:

“If this poisoning program goes ahead the new Mayor and her council need to go out there and tell Wellingtonians why their rates are being spent on ruining what could be a fantastic recreational resource for Wellington families.”

“I have written to the Mayor to find out where she stands and am looking forward to her reply.” 

In the past Dunne has been notoriously septic toward the Green Party.  He would have nothing to do with “weird people who promote psychoactive drugs and yet are horrified by a GE spud”.  Will Mayor Wade-Brown give him a hearing on the issue?  Dunne’s United Future party has only one MP in Parliament so it’s uncertain how much pressure he can bring to bear.

United Future Party caucus meeting room.