https://envirowatchrangitikei.wordpress.com/2020/01/20/rolleston-1080-factory-has-nzs-west-coast-rc-been-squandering-ratepayer-money-to-facilitate-a-private-individuals-business-interests/
ROLLESTON 1080 FACTORY: HAS NZ’S WEST COAST RC BEEN SQUANDERING RATEPAYER MONEY TO FACILITATE A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL’S BUSINESS INTERESTS?
JANUARY 20, 2020 PAM VERNON
WHY DID THE WEST COAST REGIONAL COUNCIL ACT AS BRIDGING FINANCE FOR THE 51% SHAREHOLDER OF THE ROLLESTON 1080 FACTORY? – Making a loss in the process it seems. What was wrong with using the bank?
By Carol Sawyer
The West Coast Regional Council made its initial investment in the Rolleston 1080 bait factory, Pest Control Research Ltd, in May, 2013, but did not disclose it until it was exposed by the Greymouth Star 17 months later.
See: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm…
This investment was made despite a 2010 – 2011 survey of homes in Ross, Hokitika, Hari Hari and Whataroa finding 92.5% were against their council being involved with 1080 in any manner. (Greymouth Star, 14 November, 2017)
By 2 September, 2016, the West Coast Regional Council had sunk $2,105,000 into the Rolleston factory! It was still only making prefeed baits and Pindone at this stage, and did not get consent to make 1080 baits until May, 2018.
See: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm…
The West Coast Regional Council has had a 49% share in the business since 2013 with, until 6 July, 2018, the 51% share being held by Malcolm Thomas, who had previously worked for the NZ government entity Landcare Research NZ Ltd.
See: https://www.stuff.co.nz/…/1080-factory-given-west-coast-reg…
(Pest Control Research Ltd at present has three directors – Michael Meehan, who is also CEO of the West Coast Regional Council, Matthew O’Brien, and John Wilson of Wanaka.) See: https://opencorporates.com/companies/nz/4460339
On 29 June, 2018, the West Coast Regional Council bought the 51% share in the factory from Malcolm Thomas, meaning they now owned the factory OUTRIGHT.