Editorial: Source of poison remains a mystery

It's disturbing  to think there are people like Dae Van Der Maazen who appear to have an utter disregard for others.

As we reported yesterday, Van Der Maazen, 37, of Tirau, laid cyanide baits inside small paper lolly bags and stapled them to trees close to a busy walking track near the Kaimai Summit.

It goes without saying that such parcels would have been attractive to children using the popular walking track and the consequences had a child found one could have been disastrous.

Van Der Maazen was nabbed earlier this year after being seen laying baits in the Kaimai-Mamaku Forest Park via the Henderson's Tramline track.

The complete lack of thought shown by Van Der Maazen is astounding. How he ever thought placing cyanide into lolly bags was a good idea is impossible to fathom.

Then again, the fact he chose to then place them close to a busy walking track indicates he wasn't thinking at all.

He was convicted and fined by Judge Richard Watson in Tauranga District Court this week after pleading guilty to a charge that he knowingly and without a permit entered a conservation area with cyanide poison.

Judge Watson got to the crux of the issue, saying the main concern was the cyanide was laid by a popular walking track which at this time was being used by lots of trampers from in and around the area, including families.

"I'm particularly concerned that the bait was being laid in lolly bags, which are attractive to children who are likely to pick them up, get it on their hands or ingest it in any way. That's a real concern," Judge Wilson said.

The charge carries a sentence of up to 12 months in prison or a fine of up to $10,000. Van Der Maazen was fined $2000 and ordered to pay $696.60 reparation for the analyst fee to test the cyanide.

In my view, he got off lightly.

A heftier fine or a term of imprisonment would have sent a strong message to Van Der Maazen about how dangerous his actions were and the possible ramifications of his clouded decision making.

He may have had time now to review his actions but the fact he refused to tell DoC staff where he got the cyanide indicates there was little remorse at the time.

The question arising from this case is this: why is it so easy for someone like Van Der Maazen to get hold of such a lethal poison in the first place?