Efforts by Government agencies to kill wilding pines in northern Southland have gone astray, leaving residents worried about the effects of spray on their gardens and farm crops.
Residents in Athol, 110km north of Invercargill, have been warned not to eat vegetables from their gardens until the impact of spraydrift fromthe operation is understood.
The spray, Reglone, is quickly absorbed by plants and cannot be washed off.
Farmers Peter Taylor and Kylie Sutton said the spraydrift left splotchy marks on the leaves of swede crops on their 650ha farm.
"I could smell it, it stank. I actually felt quite sick," Ms Sutton said. "If this happened in Auckland and all the housewives were hit, Helen [Clark] would do something about it."
Athol resident Adele Frost said her herbs, garden vegetables and flowers had all been affected by the spray.
Friends who had eaten lettuce out of her garden had suffered stomach cramps, she said.
"It makes you nervous."
Department of Conservation spokesman Andy Roberts said samples would be taken from plants to test for residues.
