Wellsford takes part in protest

Nine people took to State Highway 1 in Wellsford near Matheson Road on September 8 as part of a nationwide protest against the use of 1080 in New Zealand. Protest organiser Stef Railey says the event was a last-minute decision, so she was pleased with the turnout.

“I knew there were going to be protests across the country and realised nothing was happening in Wellsford, so I put something out on social media for people to join me,” Stef says. “We had 500 toots from passing drivers and only eight rude gestures, so I think it was a success.”

Stef says she is not aware of 1080 being used in the Wellsford area but has concerns for the health of the nation’s waterways, forestry and animals that aren’t pests. “It’s a cruel poison and trapping is a far better alternative,” she says.