5 August 2019
Hannah E
By email: [FYI request #10502 email]
Dear Hannah,
Official Information Act request – 1080 Poison Tests
I am responding on behalf of the University to your request for information, received on 10 June 2019.
On 10 July I emailed you noting that due to consultations required to make a decision on the request, that I
would not be able to provide a response until 5 August. I apologise for the delay.
The information you have requested is as fol ows:
“Please provide results of all 1080 poison tests including thru Wildbase between 2010 and 2019. Please
also provide photos and files relating to these tests.”
I attach a summary of post mortem results performed at Massey University, where the result indicates a 1080
exposure or poisoning. Detailed information, including photos and other scientific data are withheld on the
fol owing grounds:
• 9(2)(ba)(i): That information is subject to an obligation of confidence and the release of that
information would be likely to prejudice the supply of similar information or information from the
same source and it is in the public interest that it should be continued to be supplied; and
• 9(2)(i): Withholding the information is necessary to enable the University to carry out, without
prejudice or disadvantage, commercial activities.
Please be advised of your right to seek a review of this decision by writing to the Ombudsman.
Kind regards
Jodie Banner
Director Governance and Assurance
Post Mortem results where diagnosis indicates 1080 exposure/poisoning, between 2010 and 2019 YTD.
Sex Diagnosis
Diagnosis_Comments
Breed
Location
City
Date_Sent
Female 1080 poisoning
Kea
North Okarito Forest
Franz Josef
12/09/2011 Adult
Male
1080 poisoning
The lack of histological change is consistent with 1080 poisoning
Kea
North Okarito Forest
Franz Josef
12/09/2011 Adult
Male
1080 poisoning
Kea
North Okarito Forest
Franz Josef
19/09/2011 Juvenile
Female 1080 poisoning
Kea
North Okarito Forest
Franz Josef
19/09/2011 Adult
Female 1080 poisoning
Kea
North Okarito Forest
Franz Josef
19/09/2011 Adult
Male
1080 poisoning
Kea
Westcoast
Franz Josef
13/09/2011 Adult
Female 1080 poisoning
Kea
Westcoast
Franz Josef
14/09/2011 Subadult
Male
Sodium
A liver lead level of 0.03 mg/kg is very low and indicates previous exposure to lead but at a level unlikely to have
Kea
Deception Val ey, APNP,
Hokitika
09/08/2013 Subadult
monofluoroacetat
adversely affected the bird's health. Levels of ~10mg/kg and above are considered toxic.
West Coast, E1486046
e (1080) poisoning
N5260017
Male
Sodium
The feathers negative for PBFD on PCR, while a liver lead level of 0.02mg/kg is a very low level and indicates previous
Kea
Whaiti Stream, Otehake, Hokitika
14/08/2013 Adult
monofluoroacetat
exposure to lead but at a level considered not to adversely affect the bird's health.
West Coast
e (1080) poisoning
Female Sodium
The feathers negative for PBFD on PCR, while a liver lead level of 0.02mg/kg is a very low level and indicates previous
Kea
Deception Valley, APNP,
Hokitika
15/08/2013 Adult
monofluoroacetat
exposure to lead but at a level considered not to adversely affect the bird's health.
West Coast. E1488495
e (1080) poisoning
N5258424
Male
Sodium
The feathers negative for PBFD on PCR, while a liver lead level of 0.02mg/kg is a very low level and indicates previous
Kea
Holts Creek, Rolleston
Hokitika
15/08/2013 Adult
monofluoroacetat
exposure to lead but at a level considered not to adversely affect the bird's health.
River, West Coast
e (1080)
poisoning.
Female Sodium
The feathers negative for PBFD on PCR, while a liver lead level of 0.02mg/kg is a very low level and indicates previous
Kea
Kellys Creek, APNP,
Hokitika
15/08/2013 Adult
monofluoroacetat
exposure to lead but at a level considered not to adversely affect the bird's health.
West Coast E 1481001
e (1080)
N5259145
poisoning.
Male
Likely 1080
The green food material within the crop and gut is suggestive of sodium fluoroacetate ingestion.
Kea
Wanaka
Wanaka
11/11/2014 Adult
poisoning
Female Likely 1080
The bright green material within the crop, ventriculus and proventriculus is highly suggestive of 1080 bait ingestion
Kea
Nelson
02/12/2014 Juvenile
poisoning
resulting in the death of this bird. Stomach, muscle and liver samples have been retained if further testing is desired.
Male
Likely 1080
The bright green material within the crop, ventriculus and proventriculus is highly suggestive of 1080 bait ingestion
Kea
Kahurangi National Park
Nelson
04/12/2014 Juvenile
poisoning
resulting in the death of this bird. Stomach, muscle and liver samples have been retained if further testing is desired.
This bird was in good body condition and there were no signs of external trauma. The lining of the stomach was bright
green which could indicate the presence of the dyed 1080 bait. The muscle level of 1080 was 0.67 micrograms/gram of
muscle, indicating the bird has indeed been exposed to 1080; whether this is a lethal dose is difficult to say as definitive
cut-off levels for lethal and sub-lethal levels are not readily available. 1080 muscle levels in five kea with likely 1080 bait
present in their gizzards ranged from 0.95-3.44 micrograms/gram of muscle. In the absence of any other obvious
pathology or cause of death (liver lead level is still pending), it seems reasonable to suppose that 1080 contributed to
Female 1080 exposure
the death of this bird. The liver lead level was very low and unlikely to have adversely impacted the health of this bird.
Kea
Nelson Lakes
St Arnaud
09/01/2015 Adult
This was a young female kea in good body condition, with no signs of trauma of obvious underlying disease. Dyed
material consistent with 1080 cereal bait was present in the stomach and subsequent testing of the skeletal muscle
showed 1080 residue; 1080 ingestion is the cause of death. The level of lead in the liver was not elevated to the point
Elizabeth Stream, Perth
Female 1080 toxicosis
where it would have adversely impacted on the health of this bird.
Kea
Val ey
Wel ington
24/04/2019 Subadult
This was an adult male kea in reduced body condition. There were no signs of trauma or any obvious underlying disease.
Testing of skeletal muscle showed this kea had been exposed to 1080. The level of lead in the liver was not elevated to a
Male
1080 toxicosis
level where it would have adversely impacted on the health of this bird.
Kea
Tiechelman, Perth Valley Wel ington
24/04/2019 Adult
Document Outline
