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1080 Compensation Letters |
Dear Sir/Madam, I am a tourism operator in Karamea. I provide accommodation, transport and other services to international and domestic visitors to the region. I own and operate Rongo Backpackers & Gallery, Karamea Motels and the Global Gypsy Gallery. I promote the Karamea region to prospective tourists through Web sites associated with my businesses, I advertise in numerous publications, including; the AA guide, I-Tag, Baches and Holiday Homes to Rent guide, N.Z. Tourism Online, DoC pamphlets, BBH blue Book, Book-a-Bach and I also pay to have my business advertised in many i-Sites around the top of the South Island. The focus of the advertising is the natural scenic splendour of the Karamea region and the associated attractions and activities; tramping trails, mountain climbing, mountain biking, birdwatching, kayaking, caving, bushwalking, fishing, surfing etc, etc. People visit Karamea to enjoy the nature, scenery, clean, green, fresh and 100%Pure environment and that is the basis of my entire business. I feel my business is under threat by the activities of the Department of Conservation, the West Coast Regional Council, the Animal Health Board and EPRO, a pest control contractor. The aerial spreading of baits laced with sodium monofluoroacetate (1080) to kill possums is a serious and justifiable concern to myself and many other residents of Karamea and to the tourism operators that provide services and facilities for visitors to the region. The indiscriminate aerial broadcasting of 1080 is in direct contrast to the promotion of Karamea as an attractive, natural, clean and safe tourist destination and results in the decimation of the native birdlife, which many visitors come to enjoy, contamination of the soil, water and air and to the erection of skull and crossbones “poison laid” signs along the walking trails and at all the tourist sites that we work very hard to attract people to visit. I feel it would be irresponsible and fraudulent to invite visitors to Karamea during the 1080 drop scheduled this year and the subsequent period during which the 1080 baits are active and the poison signs in place. I intend to close my businesses during that period (July 1 to November 30, 2008) and will be applying for compensation for restriction of trade and business interruption. The practice of aerial 1080 possum control is a real and current threat to the local and national tourism industry and tourism operators are being subjected to an unreasonable assault on their business activities by the aforementioned government bodies and private contractors. I will also be encouraging all other businesses in Karamea to follow suit and apply for compensation accordingly. I have been working over the past six months to bring this matter to the attention of the relevant bodies and inform them of the concerns of myself and others in the community. I believe I have done everything in my power to avoid such action, but I am now left with no other course available to me. Paul Murray. Rongo Backpackers & Gallery
PS: In addition, please be advised that the following businesses and others will shortly be filing similar compensation claims: Karamea Lodge: http://www.karamealodge.co.nz/ ______________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________ Paul Murray Dear Paul Compensation Claim On 18 June 2008 you emailed to the Animal Health Board a claim for compensation for possible business losses attributable to Animal Health Board possum control operations near Karamea. The Karamea possum control operation is being carried out under the Biosecurity Act 1993 and the Biosecurity (National Bovine Tuberculosis Pest Management Strategy) Order 1998. Compensation payable by the Animal Health Board under the National Bovine Tuberculosis Pest Management Strategy is clearly defined, and constrained, under the Order as follows: 18 Compensation (1) Compensation under section 86 of the Act and this strategy is payable only in respect of any head of cattle: (a) Slaughtered in compliance with a direction given under the Act, after the animal has tested positive to an approved test for bovine tuberculosis. (b) Slaughtered, where slaughter is the only permitted or practicable option for that animal following the imposition of restrictions on the movement of its herd under section 130 of the Act. The Animal Health Board is therefore unable to make any compensation payment to you. Quite apart from any legal constraints on paying compensation to you, we strongly disagree with your claims that our operations will result in the decimation of native birdlife or contamination of the soil, water and air. Yours sincerely Nick Hancox Our mission is to eradicate bovine tuberculosis from New Zealand |
©Kaka 1080 Group 2008