Asthmatic spends night in tent after MAF blunders

By AMANDA KYNE

A woman with chronic asthma spent a night in a leaky tent to avoid painted apple moth spray residue after the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry cancelled her accommodation.

But the misunderstanding was rectified yesterday and Sally Lewis was able to return to motel accommodation last night.

Mrs Lewis lives in West Auckland but over the past 18 months has been relocated for a week after each spray operation because the residue gives her diarrhoea, skin rashes, nose-bleeds and weepy eyes.

Maf has been paying for her accommodation in Auckland.

About 200 people are shifted every time Maf sprays their area.

Last week, Mrs Lewis received a letter from PAM Health Services, the medical practice set up by Maf to advise health-affected residents, saying she would now receive funding for only two nights' accommodation after each spray operation, instead of the seven days.

The letter did not offer any explanation and Mrs Lewis did not call the service to ask for clarification.

Fearing the recurrence of health problems she did not return home, and booked herself into the Manukau Top Ten Holiday Park on Sunday.

But yesterday, when told of Mrs Lewis' situation, PAM Health Service director Dr Francesca Kelly said she was "horrified" and booked emergency motel accommodation for the rest of the week.

"Some misunderstanding has taken place," she said.

"We regard a tent as completely unacceptable accommodation."

Dr Kelly said Mrs Lewis was one of many health-affected people in the spray zone who received a letter about the change to their accommodation funding.

The distribution technique and amount of spraying have changed and different aircraft are now being used. Dr Kelly said that meant some people's health would be affected less and on advice from AgriQuality - the Maf laboratory arm - the accommodation for some people was cut.

In Mrs Lewis' case it was initially considered safe for her to return home after 48 hours, but her situation has been reassessed and she will stay in the motel until Thursday.

Mrs Lewis said the rain on Sunday night made being in the tent most unpleasant, and the moving had been a constant hassle. "I'm forever living out of a suitcase. It disrupts my life."

For the next spray operation on July 2, and future operations, Mrs Lewis will relocate to a Huia bach for seven days.

Moth cost

Relocating residents for spray days over six months: $1.52 million

Costs on one day's spraying, May 14

Accommodation: $341,605

Meals: $93,663

Taxis and travel: $25,233

Total: $460,501