OIAD-2374
11 October 2022
Ryan
[FYI request #20181 email]
Tēnā koe
Thank you for your Official Information Act request to the Department of Conservation
(DOC), received on 12 September 2022 in which you asked for information concerning the
Habitat Tuateawa Possum and Rat Control Operation.
Your questions and our responses are listed below:
1.
A copy of Habitat Tuateawa Inc. application DOC-7108959 and assessment report
DOC7110276
-
We
have decided to release the requested documents in part, as listed in Table 1
(items 1 and 2).
2.
Please provide a complete list of each and every known indigenous species which
are referred to as acceptable to be killed as part of the HABITAT TUATEAWA INC.
September-22 operation. Please name simply the species that may be killed and
what number or % of known population deaths of each species are authorised to be
killed for the greater protection of indigenous species, furthermore, please also simply
state the named species which are said to benefit and the evidential documentation
held proving the positive effects of poison upon the species, As per statement
received in permission id DOC-7110274; “Notwithstanding that the permission holder
must comply with these requirements, it is acknowledged that indigenous animals
may be killed so this permission authorises such deaths for the greater protection of
indigenous species. Nick Kelly - DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION Whitianga
Operations Manager”.
-
The information you seek regarding “species that may be kil ed” and percentage of
authorised species mortality does not exist. This part of your request is refused under
section 18(e) of the Act.
Conservation benefits associated with such operations are well documented. For
more information, please refer to the following publicly available resources:
➢
Taonga of an island nation: Saving New Zealand's birds
(pce.parliament.nz)
3.
Please supply evidence of any and all auditing of immediate, secondary and
unintentional and intentional poisoning data collected thru compulsory carcass
monitoring by HABITAT TUATEAWA INC. for years 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019,
Page 1 of 6
2020 and 2021 as is required since at least 2020 and as stipulated under the 2022
consent along with information as it becomes available for the current operation.
'Permission ID - DOC-7110274 DOC Performance Standards #137; Diphacinone
Caution Period - The estimated caution period for this operation is 5 months after bait
removal and is subject to compulsory carcass monitoring. The estimated caution
period cannot be reduced to less than 2 months and must be extended if the
endpoints of the monitoring have not been met at the end of the period.'
-
In terms of compulsory carcass monitoring, this has been a requirement for
operations undertaken by the community group for years 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020,
2021 and 2022. This information is a part of the permission and results are held by
Habitat Tuateawa.
Operations undertaken by Habitat Tuateawa in 2018 and 2019 did not require
compulsory carcass monitoring.
Carcass monitoring is not used to determine lethality (of toxin) or effectiveness of
these operations. It is used to inform the caution period for warning signs to be
uplifted based on carcass decomposition.
Carcass monitoring is a requirement for the current operation issued under
Permission ID - DOC-7110274 and an audit will be undertaken in line with the
performance standards outlined in this permission once the operation is completed.
4.
Please supply evidence required to be held by Habitat Tuateawa Inc as a condition of
their consent, that: pigs were not present in the poison area and that stations used to
house Diphacinone baits in the forest park have been placed where possums and
pigs have been excluded and that bait stations have not in fact been placed in trees
with easy access for depositing and removing poison and that pigs may also be able
to access and destroy the stations and also supply evidence that the baits are not
able to be removed and spread from the bait stations by ship rats, such baits being
specifically designed with a central hole so they can be affixed to a solid object to
avoid removal and storing the baits by rats, such baits have further been specifically
coated with a preservative so they do not break down as readily when out of the
stations, as required, within the Permission Document for pesticide use #137
Diphacinone D-Block Extreme; Performance Standard Compulsory for all operations
(1) Only use at sites where either possums are at very low abundance or being
controlled simultaneously; or excluded from bait stations. (6) Do not use where pigs
are present/reduce pig numbers prior to operation; or (7) Place bait out of reach of
pigs to prevent primary poisoning and reduce possum numbers or exclude possums
from bait stations) to help reduce the risk of secondary poisoning of pigs.(8) Bait
station design must prevent access to baits by inquisitive birds ( e.g. kea, weka and
kaka).
Page 2 of 6
-
This aspect of your request is refused under 18(e) as the information does not exist.
We can however confirm that the group utilise Philproof Possum bait stations. These
are industry standard stations and are commonly used by both DOC and Councils.
These are designed to exclude birds and other non-target species.
The bait stations have been elevated to a height of more than one metre which will
reduce the probability of feral pigs taking the baits, additionally the group has limited
the time baits are in bait stations further reducing the risk of interference or threat to
non-target species.
We have been informed by Habitat Tuateawa that they have been heavily engaged
with local pig hunters prior to the operation and have encouraged active hunting to
reduce pig numbers where feasible.
This is consistent with section 7 of the Performance Standards within Habitat
Tuateawa’s permission and no pre-operation pig monitoring was required as a part of
this permission.
5.
Please supply the total number of land tenures within the 178ha (approx) for which
the organisation holds written consent and permission to poison as per the 2020 and
2021 operations which included land other than PCL and how many of the total
tenures are incorporation members and or paid participants of Habitat Tuateawa INC.
and what remaining portion of the 178ha. (approx) does the incorporation hold
independent consent from to enable lawfully access and poison to be laid upon
private land as per Schedule 1 of the Community Agreement page 4 SCOPE OF THE
AGREEMENT where stated: 'It is important to note this management agreement only
authorises the work undertaken on PCL and does not give the organisation
authorisation to operation on other land tenures. This should be obtained
independently. The information of these other tenures is included in this agreement
only for the purposes of understanding the entire operation that the organisation
undertakes.'
-
We only hold permissions for work to be undertaken on Public Conservation Land. In
relation to your request, this would be the 44ha which comprises land referred to as
the Kennedy Bay Block, part of the Coromandel Forest Park.
We do not hold land tenure information in relation to operations on Tuateawa private
land. This aspect of your request is refused under section 18(g) of the Act as the
information requested is not held by us.
We recommend utilising the publicly available information you seek on The Thames
Coromandel District Council SMART Maps Portal Property map. This can be
accessed at:
Thames-Coromandel District Council - SMART Maps Portal
(tcdc.govt.nz)
Page 3 of 6
6.
Please supply referenced documents in section E of Schedule 1 as they relate to
private and public land activities. WTZC-GRP-CAT Habitat Tuateawa Pest Control -
DOC-606067, 6.2 WTZC-GRPHS Habitat Tuateawa Safety Manual v2 DOC3245297.
-
We have decided to release requested documents in part, as listed in Table 1 (items
3 and 4).
7.
Please supply all documentation and evidence of consultation and consent given by
local Whanau and Hapu required to be undertaken to ascertain acceptance and
consent for the 2020, 2021 and 2022 operations to use toxic baits within the
Tuateawa area.
-
There is no communication plan information for 2020 & 2021 however we have
provided documentation in part for the current 2022 operation, as listed in Table 1
(item 5). We can confirm that Tangata Whenua engagement was undertaken in
advance of the operation. Treaty partners consulted include: Ngāti Porou, Ngāti
Whanaunga, Raukatauri a Huarere and Ngāti Tamaterā.
8.
Please provide all such reporting documentation held as requirement of the
community agreement Schedule 1 Section J: 'J.3(a); In each year during the term of
the Agreement, the Organisation will keep a record of the number of volunteers and
workday equivalents (8 hours including travel) involved in undertaking the Activity and
will share the data collected with the DOC.- The Organisation will also provide the
following information requested by DoC: GPS locations of traps, Trap Catch Data,
Data collected regarding pest plant infestation or eradication, Operation Plans for
baiting programme, Contributions by volunteers (workday equivalents), Group
Strategic Plan'
-
Data collection for community trap lines is not held by DOC and has been migrated to
online systems (TRAPNZ) administered by the community group. This information
has yet to be collected by us, as such I am unable to provide this information under
section 18(g) of the Act.
9.
Please supply a full and detailed account of any and all instances of poisoning or
harm to people their property and or their livestock and or pets since incorporation
date as outlined in Schedule 2, 6.9, to include but not limited to the poisoning of ‘Jed’,
as well as record of any and all notices of objections, of complaint, of No trespass notices issued and or cease and desist notices given to any incorporation members in
the scope of their work and affiliation with Habitat Tuateawa Inc. and include such
actions as taken to record and remedy any and all such issues.
-
We have not received any information concerning poisoning or harm to property
because of any operations undertaken by Habitat Tuateawa.
We have no knowledge of ‘Jed’ or any information concerning poisoning or harm to
‘Jed’. The information you seek does not exist and this aspect of your request is
subsequently refused under section 18(e) of the Act.
Page 4 of 6
Table 1 – Schedule of documents
Item
Date
Document description
Decision
1
21 July
Habitat Tuateawa AEE Application - 2022
Released in part
2022
DOC-7108959
2
10 August
Application assessment report- Habitat
Released in part
2022
Tuateawa DOC7110276
3
03
WTZC-GRP-CAT Habitat Tuateawa Pest
Released in part
September
Control DOC 6060676
2019
4
14
WTZC-GRPHS Habitat Tuateawa Safety
Released in part
December
Manual v2 DOC 3245297
2017
5
10 August
Habitat Tuateawa Communication Plan
Released in Part
2022
2022 DOC 7174626
I have decided to release the relevant parts of the documents listed above, subject to
information being withheld under one or more of the following sections of the Official
Information Act, as applicable:
• personal contact details of officials, under section 9(2)(a) – to protect the privacy of
natural persons, including deceased people,
• personal contact details of staff, under section 9(2)(g)(ii) – to protect employees from
improper pressure or harassment.
• entity names, under section 9(2)(g)(ii) – to protect members of an organisation from
improper pressure or harassment
In making my decision, I have considered the public interest considerations in section 9(1) of
the Official Information Act and determined there are no public interests which outweigh the
grounds for withholding.
You are entitled to seek an investigation and review of my decision by writing to an
Ombudsman as provided by section 28(3) of the Official Information Act.
Please note that this letter (with your personal details removed) and enclosed documents
may be published on the Department’s website.
Page 5 of 6
If you wish to discuss this with the Department, please contact Nick Kelly, Operations
Manager on 027 540 6165 or by email
[email address]. Nāku noa, nā
Darryn Ratana
Director Operations Hauraki Waikato Taranaki (Acting)
Department of Conservation
Te Papa Atawhai
Page 6 of 6
