KEY POINTS:
An inquiry that found people were "human collateral" of the painted apple moth spraying project has been rejected by Biosecurity Minister Jim Anderton.
The "people's inquiry" was set up in 2005 after two and a half years of spraying Foray 48b in urban Auckland by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF).
The spraying was intended to eradicate the moth, considered a major biosecurity threat.
During the inquiry, West Auckland residents, scientists and others appeared before a panel of four "commissioners" from New Zealand and abroad.
Their recommendation are being sent to the Government.
The report said the community became the "human collateral" of the spray campaign, and the lack of Government response was disturbing.
But Mr Anderton said the campaign was vital to protect the native forest of the Waitakere Ranges and rejected findings that the community was seriously damaged.
"The community had been involved in the programme from the start, and all steps had been taken to avoid aerial spraying, which had prolonged the programme," he said. said.
Ground spraying was unsuccessful but the aerial programme eradicated the painted apple moth, he said.
Green MP Sue Kedgley said the report showed the need for an urgent overhaul of biosecurity laws as under the Biosecurity Act, officials were not required to acknowledge or compensate people for effects on their health or livelihood.
"This must change, and the Ministry of Health must be given explicit responsibility for assessing and overseeing the public health impacts of any future biosecurity programme," she said.
Waitakere City Mayor Bob Harvey said those who campaigned against the spraying were treated like "tree-hugging idiots".
"We were never listened to and our protests were treated with contempt."
Pesticide Action Network co-ordinator Merial Watts also welcomed the report and called for a formal inquiry.
"There must now be a formal apology by the Government to the community and compensation for the effects they experienced. The report described the experiences suffered by some at the hands of MAF and its contracted doctors as 'brutalising'," Dr Watts said.
"This situation must never happen again."
The inquiry, held in March last year, received 125 submissions and heard from 70 people.
One of the commissioners, Joanna Goven from Canterbury University, said the spraying caused disruption to people's work, education and family lives.
"There were various kinds of respiratory [problems], skin complaints, and various aggravation of pre-existing conditions," she told Radio New Zealand.
Dr Goven said the people who tried to get help felt "hurt, anger, mistrust, and alienation" because they were told they did not meet the standards set for health assistance.
The report recommended the Government make an official apology, compensate victims and review the Biosecurity Act.
- NZPA
