What’s 100% Pure minus 1080?

NZ takes pride in its nature and scenery, marketing itself as “100% Pure”. However, there’s one number that doesn’t appear in its marketing - 1080.

Until the arrival of the Maoris in the 1300s, ground mammals were unknown in NZ, hence the abundance of flightless birds. The arrival of the Maoris and, more importantly, the European (and Euro-Australian) settlers and the animals they introduced, saw an explosion in the number of ground pests affecting NZ wildlife.

Back in the late 1950s government departments introduced the use of 1080, a water-soluble and biodegradable sodium fluoroacetate-based pesticide. NZ uses some eighty per cent of the world's supply. Controversially, the poison is spread from planes and helicopters in what opponents consider to be blanket usage, affecting wildlife other than pests and entering water courses.

This is a tricky one. Clearly it’s a very effective way of tackling the major environmental disaster of ground-based pests killing off native NZ wildlife, especially the national symbol the kiwi. But what are the side-effects and what other wildlife also suffers? The debate and controversy will doubtless continue for years to come.