Moth spray harmful says school poll

By ANNE BESTON

A survey of 320 West Auckland primary and intermediate schools on the effects of aerial spraying against the painted apple moth backs up calls for the $90 million campaign to be stopped, the teachers' union says.

But the results show either teachers are reluctant to take days off or the effects of the spraying are not as bad as some anti-spray campaigners believe.

Just over half of teachers surveyed said they had experienced adverse effects from the spraying of the insecticide Foray 48B, or Btk, but 91 per cent said it had not caused them to be absent from school.

Some said they had tolerated illness because they felt uncomfortable taking time off on spray days.

Of 33 principals surveyed, 21, or 64 per cent, said they had not noticed specific effects from the spraying, although many said they lacked the necessary medical knowledge to answer the question.

Twenty-two principals, or 66 per cent, said they had noticed an increase in pupil absenteeism on spray days. Only two principals said the spraying had no effect on their school.

Survey organiser Meredydd Barrar, a member of the committee of management of the NZ Educational Institute's West Auckland branch, said the survey was endorsed by the committee, and the results backed up the case for spraying to be stopped.

"This is overwhelming evidence that people are being adversely affected by the spray," he said.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, which is in charge of the campaign, would not comment on the findings.