For the first time, supported by scientific evidence, and indisputable footage, this film exposes the truth about a practice that breaches human rights, animal rights, and unveils a deception that will leave viewers in shock! New Zealand claims to be clean, green, and 100% pure. But can a country that drops from helicopters, an attractive food mixed with 90% of the world's annual supply of the deadly pesticide 1080 - enough poison, every year, to kill its human population 5 times over - qualify for such an esteemed self evaluation? Can a country that relies on farming exports and tourism, afford to be so cavalier with one of the worlds most deadly poisons? Poisoning Paradise lifts the lid on this bureaucratic practice, exposing an atrocity that will leave you in disbelief.....—Anonymous
For the first time, supported by scientific evidence, and indisputable footage, this film exposes the truth about a practice that breaches human rights, animal rights, and unveils a deception that will leave viewers in shock!
New Zealand claims to be clean, green, and 100% pure. But can a country that drops from helicopters, an attractive food mixed with 90% of the world's annual supply of the deadly pesticide 1080 - enough poison, every year, to kill its human population 5 times over - qualify for such an esteemed self evaluation?Can a country that relies on farming exports and tourism, afford to be so cavalier with one of the worlds most deadly poisons?
Poisoning Paradise lifts the lid on this bureaucratic practice, exposing an atrocity that will leave you in disbelief.....
The Poisoning Paradise project -
In 2008, while on a filming and photography shoot in the Kahurangi National Park, the Graf brothers witnessed a Weka ( a flightless, endemic New Zealand bird), consuming a possum carcass. Because 1080 is used to kill possums and rats, and that the poison is retained in the carcass of the animal it kills - and is then capable of poisoning the next feeder up the food chain - the Weka could be killed by feeding on the carcass. (Weka are known to eat dead possums and rats, the target of the poison drops, as are many other New Zealand species of birds). Another important point is that all animals killed by 1080, against manufacturers directions, are left to decompose where they die. Be that on land, or in water.This event sparked another attempt to get the truth out about the 1080 practice in New Zealand. It was decided another attempt would be made, without holding anything back, and the filming of 'Poisoning Paradise - Ecocide New Zealand', began.Donations were made from members of the public, and a total of about $15,000 NZD ($10,000 USD) was collected, and contributed to the production. The Graf Brothers were going up against heavily funded Government departments, but when you have truth on your side, no amount of propaganda or ridicule can change the facts. Poisoning Paradise is distressing, and revealing. New Zealand authorities have been using 1080 for over 20 years - and many members of the public believe these authorities have been concealing the truth, endangering wildlife, endangering people, exports, and New Zealand's reputation since they begun using the toxin, decades ago.
A bit of history -
The Graf brothers, known as The Graf Boys in New Zealand, grew up in wild country - the Te Urewera National Park - in the central North Island of New Zealand.They learned hunting and survival skills from their father, Egon, who was a professional deer hunter.
In 2006, The Graf brothers were requested by concerned members of the public to produce a documentary on the highly controversial 1080 poison industry in New Zealand.Their first documentary on the subject - A Shadow of Doubt - was completed in 2007.This film was submitted into the Government re-assessment on 1080, conducted in 2007, by the Environmental Risk Management Authority, also known as ERMA.But many felt the ERMA review was predetermined from the beginning, and that the reassessment was simply a PR project - and that indeed, appeared to be the case. ERMA released their intent to allow the continued use of the poison in April, even before the public hearings began.The official decision was released in August 2007 - to allow the continued use of the deadly poison, 1080, to be dropped from aircraft, into New Zealand's pristine forests and streams.Many people across the country were left in disbelief after the decision was released, and many were not surprised.
Further developments -
"Anti-1080-film-makers-criminal-past-surfaces"It was revealed in the media by opponents of the documentary, that the co-producer - co-director Clyde Graf (who also presents the film), was sentenced to prison for bank robbery in Australia, in1986. Although there was no real gun used, and not trying to diminish the seriousness of the offense (a replica pistol was used), a sentence of 10 years imprisonment at Bogo Road Jail was handed down. Opponents of this film have rigorously tried to dis-credit the makers, in a hope that open minded viewers will sour from watching it. See the film, and form your own conclusion in this disturbing David and Goliath battle...
Ends.
