Protestors disrupt 1080 drop near Hokitika

At approx 6.45am on Tuesday 15th of June 2010 Hokitika Police were called to Butlers Farm south of Hokitika.

A planned 10/80 Operation Drop was due to commence but was delayed due to protest action by a number of protestors.

The protestors split into two groups with one group remaining at the gate to the farm where security was in place and the second group had breached the outer cordon and were in the operational area near where the helicopters were.

Police located 'Z' nails laid on the access road to the operational area and as a result one Police vehicle and one Private Security vehicle suffered punctures.

As a result 5 protestors being one female and four male were arrested and transported back to Greymouth Police Station where they were charged with offences under the Trespass Act and Bio Security Act.

Approx 8 Police Officers from Hokitika, Franz Joseph and Greymouth were at the incident.