Kerikeri crops damaged by spraydrift

Three people are facing prosecution by the Northland Regional Council after $300,000 of crops in Kerikeri were allegedly damaged and a stream was contaminated by aerial spraydrift.

A council spokesman said a helicopter in October allegedly contaminated a tributary of the Kerikeri River with herbicide and contaminated water was then supplied to several horticulturists in the Kerikeri area.

Regional council air quality team leader Paul Baynham said tests on damaged plants revealed the herbicide found in the river was the same sprayed on to a large Kerikeri farm.

A Northland helicopter pilot, his employer and a landowner now face 18 charges under the Resource Management Act, which carry a maximum penalty of $200,000 and up to two years in jail.