Rahui Katene

Wellington, June 16 NZPA - Maori Party MP Rahui Katene intends to draft a member's bill to ban the use of 1080 poison.

Mrs Katene said the Department of Conservation (DOC) should transfer guardianship back to tangata whenua who could invest in large scale possum trapping projects.

"Poisoning an entire forest to kill one or two species of pests, which also infects the land and waters, is lazy and short-sighted."

Mrs Katene's comments come after five people were arrested on the West Coast during a protest against a 1080 operation.

She said she would not comment on the actions of those arrested but said they had highlighted an issue that needed to be heard.

In May, West Coast iwi Te Runanga o Makaawhio refused to give consent for future 1080 poison operations.

Iwi groups are regarded as "affected parties" and asked to sign their consent to all 1080 operations within their area.

DOC uses the poison to control possums and rats.