Pest gone but public unhappy

Victory was officially declared over the painted apple moth pest yesterday but the campaign to stop thousands of homes from being doused with insecticide from the air goes on.

As a "people's inquiry" into the effects of the moth-killing spray Btk kicks off today, Biosecurity Minister Jim Anderton yesterday announced the Government's $62.4 million battle against painted apple moth, involving 69 aerial dousings of West Auckland suburbs between 1999 and 2003, had been a success.

No moths had been found in the infestation area for two years and vegetation controls were lifted from midnight last night.

The eradication of the Aussie invader was marked by long and bitter opposition from West Auckland residents who fought to stop aerial spraying of Btk.

But Mr Anderton yesterday thanked residents for their "support and understanding" while offering hope a similar campaign might not be necessary in future.

"Tools developed during the campaign ... will be invaluable," he said, including the release of sterile male moths and more refined insect population estimates.

Yesterday leading anti-spray campaigner Hana Blackmore, a convenor of the People's Inquiry into the spraying of West Auckland, said the chances of urbanites putting up with another, similar, aerial campaign were "zero".

A scientist involved with the white spotted tussock moth campaign in East Auckland in 1996, Dr John Clearwater, also had doubts another aerial campaign would be tolerated after the hostility it provoked.

The people's inquiry will involve "testimony" from a range of West Auckland residents, scientists and others before a panel of four commissioners from New Zealand and abroad.

It starts tomorrow and runs for six days and is being held in the council chambers of Waitakere City Council's civic centre.

Recommendations from the commissioners will go to the Government and Ms Blackmore said it was hoped they would be considered by a parliamentary select committee.

Another moth pest, fall webworm, a voracious feeder on fruit and some deciduous trees, detected in Mt Wellington in 2003, was also declared successfully eradicated with a price tag for a ground-spraying programme of $6.7 million.

The pests had a combined worst-case scenario economic impact estimated at more than $400 million.

 People's Inquiry

* A range of residents, iwi representatives, scientists and experts will appear before four commissioners over six days beginning today.

* The hearings are being held at Waitakere City Council. Recommendations from the inquiry will eventually go to the Government.