THE PEOPLE'S INQUIRY

Report of the People's Inquiry Released.

Findings have significant political implications

The long-awaited Report of the March 2006 People's Inquiry into the impacts and effects of the two and a half years of aerial spraying pesticide over urban areas of Auckland has finally been released.

The Commissioners' findings published today are substantial and have significant political implications.

Hana Blackmore, Convenor of the People’s Inquiry Steering Committee said today that implementation of the wealth of practical recommendations in the Report should lead to a real change in the way biosecurity incursions responses are conducted in this country, and the way in which people impacted by these programmes are treated.

The Commissioners’ Report is comprehensive, thoroughly detailed and hugely welcome she said.

“For the first time the impact of a major eradication campaign has been examined from the perspective of the community. The people of Auckland and Waitakere City in particular, have borne the brunt of an unprecedented campaign to eradicate a pest that supposedly threatened not their health, but national economic interests.”

“They became in essence the human collateral of an eradication campaign in which current biosecurity legislation does not even recognise let alone compensate people for any impacts on their health and livelihoods” said Blackmore.

The Report doubts that any community will have confidence in MAF to properly consider health impacts when primary production sector interests are at stake, and recommends a number of strong changes in the Biosecurity Act to cover compensation, protection of human rights and public health.

The groundbreaking Inquiry held in Waitakere City, was the first of this scope and nature held anywhere in the world, having been commissioned and set up by the community themselves.

Hearings were held in late March 2006 and the Commissioners heard testimony from over 70 people during the five days of hearings.

The recognition in the Report of the adverse social, economic and health impacts of the aerial spraying and the failure on many levels to meet basic ethical and human rights standards were not the only positive outcomes for the community said Hana Blackmore.

“The simple acknowledgement that the people have finally been heard and their experiences recognised has been a huge relief and a tremendous boost to their spirits” she said.

After the presentation of the Report to the community on Friday at a celebratory evening hosted by Waitakere City Council, Hana acknowledged that the real hard work of the Committee will now begin.

“We cannot thank the Commissioners enough for their commitment and dedication over the last eighteen months to bring this Report to publication. Now we have to follow through and ensure their recommendations are implemented.” she said.

“This journey is just beginning”.