Anti-1080 protests escalate on West Coast

Attempts to delay the resumption of a massive aerial 1080 poison drop in South Westland were thwarted at the 11th hour this morning, despite a 40-strong crowd and road blocks.

Protesters lined different access roads into the Lake Ianthe forest overnight, keeping a vigil until daybreak, in an attempt to stop a fleet of Animal Health Board, Vector Control and TB Free NZ staff vehicles from reaching the helicopter loading zone.

It worked initially, as felled trees and a trail of building nails laid on the old logging roads forced the truck carrying the 1080 pellets to turn back about 9.30pm.

However, protesters were thrown off the scent by a last minute switch to a Kakapotahi farm, as the aerial operation got under way unimpeded.

Constable Neil Gillespie, of Hokitika police, said one road about 1km south of Pukekura had been laid with the 'Z' nails, with trees and vehicles blocking access, although there were no people about.

A separate protest involving about 50 people was mounted outside Greymouth Courthouse this morning, as some of those charged as a result of the last 1080 drop a month ago appeared in court.

One Hokitika protester, who would not be named, said people had been watching the aerial contractor's Hokitika Airport base for days, and all along the state highway to the Lake Ianthe forest drop zone throughout the night.

At the height of the protest, about 7.30am, there were about 30 people on site. Others were scattered along the roadside.

Animal Health Board communications adviser Mike Hansen said they had decided to go with plan B.

"We had planned a second site because of the trouble and we decided to use that very, very early this morning."

It was not uncommon to move vehicles under the cover of darkness to get an early start, he said.

However, the new location was kept secret.

"Normally in other places it would not be a problem, but on the West Coast we run into so many problems it's sometimes dangerous to let them know. We just want to get the job done."

They managed to get all the vehicles into the operation zone without any protest disruption.

However, about 15 protesters soon descended on the Beach Rd site at Kakapotahi.

Waitaha Valley dairy farmer Stu Davidson said it was "devastating" that the poison drop was going ahead.

He turned out this morning to "peacefully protest". Others were more vocal, yelling abuse and picketing staff and vehicles as they moved in and out of the drop zone.

Three security guards manned the base site.

Mr Hansen said as protest action was "a given", the police presence reduced the need for extra security.

He said the remaining part of the 46,000ha drop - seven blocks between Harihari and Whataroa - would hopefully be completed today.

An additional 6700ha would be treated by ground control.

- NZPA