DOC staffer's dodgy Wikipedia edit

A mystery DOC staff member is being blamed for deleting information on a Wikipedia page about 1080 poison.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) is working to track down a staff member who deleted anti-1080 information from a Wikipedia page while at work.

The staffer deleted a reference to films against the poison on Friday from the online encyclopaedia's "1080 usage in New Zealand" page, The Press reported.

A link to the Stop 1080 Poison lobby group was also removed.

The amendments were traced to DOC through its internet protocol address.

DOC spokesman Rory Newsam said that IT staff were working to track down where on the department's 1800-computer network the deletion was made, before steps were taken to find out which staff member was involved.

It was hoped the computer used would be identified within the next 48 hours.

The action was a breach of DOC's internet-use policy, Mr Newsam said.

He was unable to say what sort of action would be taken against the employee.

The removed sentences read: "Steve and Clyde Graf have produced two DVDs about the effects of 1080 on New Zealand wildlife.

"The first, A Shadow of Doubt, released in 2006 and rated Adults Only (AO), is a 90-minute feature film. The second film, Paradise Poisoned, was released in July 2009."

Christchurch man Alan Liefting, who set up the "1080 usage in New Zealand" page last September, resurrected the information within 30 minutes.

He told The Press debate was being "stifled" by "bad-faith editing" by public servants wasting their time.

"It's not up to DOC employees to do this sort of thing."

- NZPA