Innocent people will be hurt: Warning as anti-1080 protesters threaten violence

  • 07/11/2018

An expert warns that innocent people will be hurt if violent anti-1080 threats continue.

On Tuesday Newshub revealed that violence and threats of violence by the fringe protesters have spiked - including multiple threats against the Prime Minister and Department of Conservation (DoC) workers.

In January, five incidents were recorded. That number peaked at 93 incidents last month, but DoC is being more robust in its reporting.

And Ms Ardern told Newshub she's received at least one death threat from anti-1080 extremists.

"I've had some incidents that I've been made aware of, but to be honest some of my greater concern is with those on the front line who receive these threats a bit more directly and a bit more personally."

Science and environment writer Dave Hansford fears sooner or later death threats towards DoC staff over the use of 1080 will turn into a reality.

"There are an awful lot of threats and it may be that most of them are empty but there is going to be one and one is all it needs," he says.

"If enough wheelnuts are loosened, sooner or later innocent people are going to end up getting hurt."

Ms Ardern says the Government welcomes protest, but it's gone too far.

"When we see that tip into violence or threats of violence against people working on the front line and doing their job, then that concerns me."

And Mr Hansford says as more threats are revealed, public revulsion only increases and anti-1080 protesters are further marginalising themselves with this behaviour.

"If these people think that this is a way to somehow win over the hearts and minds of the New Zealand public and turn them towards their cause then they've calculated badly," he says.

"We have to decide whether we as New Zealanders are allowed to let really important public policy be decided by the degree of outrage."

Newshub.