The government is set to introduce new regulations around the use of poisons like 1080.
The new rules around 1080 will come into effect in April. Photo: Supplied
Currently it is up to regional councils to set rules for the use of 1080 and other poisons in their region.
But now the government will set rules to apply throughout the country, rather than having different rules within each regional council.
Environment Minister Nick Smith said the move was expected to save $11 million over the next 20 years through reduced bureaucracy, and would reduce costs and delays for operators.
"And enable agencies, like the Department of Conservation to get on with the work of protecting New Zealand's native species."
He said stoats, rats and possums killed 25 million native birds per year, and the use of effective and efficient poisons like 1080 was necessary.
The national approach to the use of poisons such as 1080 and brodifacoum will come into effect in April.
The regulations have been approved under the Resource Management Act after consultation last year and an initial push by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Jan Wright.
Dr Smith said the national rules would be very tight and ensured risks were properly managed from both a safety and an environmental point of view.
