New Zealand's "eco-terrorist" false flag

New Zealand's "eco-terrorism" threat -  a false flag?

Seemorerocks

First, let me lay out the facts as presented by the media.

4 months ago (after a major release of 1080 poison in the Auckland region in November last year) Federated Farmers and Fonterra received a letter which threatened to contaminate infant formula with the poison 1080 if its use was not discontinued by the end of March..

There has been a police investigation since that date and New Zealand's trading partners have been informed of the situation - but not the public.

Until yesterday.

According to our prime minister, John Key (who as we all know ALWAYS tells the truth - sic), they were going to go public with this next week but he personally made the decision to go public early because he was starting to field enquires from the media who had found out about it. 

I have listened carefully to the story as it was presented on Radio New Zealand this morning and have been able to come to some conclusions.

Labour's spokesman on agriculture, Jim Sutton has, very predictably come in behind the government by saying this is a huge threat, that , if carried out, could destroy the country's economy.

Winston Peters, the old dog, is closer to the mark when he questions "why the delay?" and that with the GCSB and a number of other things going wrong for the government (including the Northland by-election) it provides a good opportunity for the the government to place a "detour" or "roadblock" to public discussion of matters of importance.

Several things jumped out at me:

1. Radio NZ did not do as it normally does, and interview opposition politicians. Where, for example, was Russel Norman on this?

2. The 1080 groups have immediately distanced themselves from this. The most revealing statement came from one activist who said (at 1:45 of the following piece:

The only people who could get 1080 pellets are Animal Control Products. There is tight security as 1080 is imported from Tull Chemical Company in Alabama, USA  and goes to Animal Control Products in Wanganui, where they incorporate it into various baits, and there would be no power outside the factory. If there's 1080 powder it's an inside job

(NOTE - not an exact quote)

 

3. The prime minister, who apart from his lying and obfuscation can be remarkably transparent.  At 2'38" in the following Radio New Zealand interview he says the following:

"If you capitulated on the back of a threat like this where would it ever stop? Ultimately, the next issue would be that they don't like the GCSB or they don't like something else the government does...."

It is possible that this is a real situation that was being investigated and that it is, as a minimum, being exploited by the government to deflect from other issues such as the latest Edward Snowden revelations on New Zealand's spying on its closest trading partners, not for intelligence that would be in NZ's economic interest but to hand onto the NSA "to fill in the gaps" as part of NZ's membership of the Five Eyes alliance.

I consider it quite likely that this was a false flag operation - especially given the tight control of the white, industrial powder that comes in from the US (which the police has said would be used) and in light of the fact that the decision to announce this came directly from the prime minister.

This could serve several goals.

We have known, and expected that the spectre of terrorism would be used to increase controls over the public. It was to be expected that this might come from a Muslim terrorist attack in this country - but why not use a unique, Kiwi situation to reach the same goal?

Dairy is unfortunately the lifeblood of the New Zealand economy and such a threat, if carried out, could have devastating effects on its economy.

In addition it has he potential to raise levels of fear in the population more than almost everything. People will get very emotional about any threat that what parents are giving to their babies might be poisoned.

Last, but not least, the Snowden revelations, which should have been very damaging to this government have been knocked out of the headlines, even in the New Zealand Herald which, no doubt, has been working on this story for weeks.

The government, which will have known what was coming will have been working on damage control big time.

I don't think that it was at all a coincidence that the Radio New Zealand report (that was minimal and tucked into the middle of the show in a single segment) characterised what they they have hitherto described as "Snowden revelations" as "Nicky Hager's latest allegations"

What has been happening behind the scenes at Radio New Zealand?

Obviously, it is no longer enough to simply rely on New Zealanders' collective apathy'

Here is Guyon Espiner's interview with investigative journalist, Nicky Hager

  

My suspicion about all of this is that the end of March will come and go and there will be no further developments but the authorities will be unable to solve the case.

It will have been a storm in a teacup.

But by then the government's will have achieved what it wanted. 

From parents to politicians, outrage at threat to baby formula

Formula threat: PM defends decision to keep threat secret

Prime Minister John Key has defended the Government's decision to keep the 1080 contamination threat secret until yesterday.

NZ Herald,

11 March, 2015

The threat to infant formula was revealed to the public yesterday because "chatter about it in Auckland" had led to several journalists being tipped off, Mr Key said.

"We always knew there was a risk that it was going to break, I mean, over 1000 people knew," Mr Key told Radio New Zealand today

Read more:
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Mr Key said the police did not want the threat made public as it could have compromised the investigation.

A reliable test for 1080 contamination also had to be developed.

"There was no test for 1080 because it's not a substance you would find in milk powder, so one had to be created and then the robustness of that tested."

Mr Key told Radio New Zealand the manufacturing process also had to be reviewed.

"And of course the threat in the letter said that we had until the end of March to change our use of 1080."

Video

Meanwhile, police investigating the threat to contaminate infant formula with 1080 poison have appealed today for the person responsible to "do the right thing" and come forward.

Speaking at a press conference at Police National Headquarters this morning, Deputy Commissioner Mike Clement said the police investigation was progressing well.

"We are very encouraged with the response we have had from the public.

"It's most likely with the public's help this matter will be brought to a conclusion."

He asked the person involved to "do the right thing" and make contact with police to prevent further "fear for mums and dads".

Police appeal for public assistance in relation to a threat that has been made to contaminate infant formula with 1080 pest poison. Photo / Nick Reed

"We want to hear from you so we can get this matter resolved."

Dr Pat Tuohy, chief advisor for health from the Ministry of Health, told the press conference he appreciated parents were feeling "anxious and angry".

"They can reassure themselves about the safety of the infant formula chain."

He said formula was as safe today as it was before the threat was made.

Concerned parents could check products for tampering, he said.

"It's not hard to do and can make them feel a lot safer about the formula they are feeding their babies."

He encouraged parents not to change from the formula they were using.

He recommended any parents with ongoing concerns to do as they normally do and seek advice from a health practitioner, such as Healthline, Plunket or their family doctor.

Mr Tuohy said it would it would only take a very small dose to be lethal for a baby.

He said 1080 was not discernible by taste or colour. This would make it more difficult to detect.

However, he continued to assure parents that the likelihood of any poison making its way into infant formula was "tiny".

45,000 samples tested

Food Safety Minister Jo Goodhew said the testing regime did not start until late January because laboratories needed to be geared up with equipment and capabilities to carry out the work.

"We tested the product that we already had on hand, both MPI and Fonterra product, and then as the other manufacturers were contacted we were able to uptake testing all of their products as well," Ms Goodhew told Radio New Zealand.

A total of 45,000 samples had now been tested, including every batch of infant and other formula, and raw milk.

"We're looking at detection to one part per billion of 1080 pesticide, we're testing to that level and we can tell you we've found absolutely nothing across 45,000 samples."

Product samples dating back to September had also been checked, and extra security measures put into the transport and delivery chain.

Ms Goodhew said testing would continue for as long as necessary.

"Health and wellbeing of the consumer is at the forefront of everything we're doing."

Ministry for Primary Industries deputy director Scott Gallacher said all infant formula had undergone a "comprehensive batch testing regime" - from raw milk through to the finished product.

The size of the batch depended on a variety of factors.

"The testing is just one part of the overall security we have across the whole manufacturing and supply chain.

"At each point we have increased vigilance," he said.

Food and Grocery Council chief executive Katherine Rich said she was briefed by the Ministry for Primary Industries in mid-February, and given background on what had occurred and the mitigation steps taken.

However, she told Radio New Zealand she signed a confidentiality agreement so was not able to tell anyone.

Her first move was to check policies on malicious product tampering.

"Most of our member companies deal with these sorts of incidents and plan for these incidents."

Ms Rich said supermarkets were notified the following week "and immediately kicked into gear".

"Since that time a lot of planning has been put into place ... and I think all of us are very confident that we've had the time to put a number of additional procedures in place, so we can look particularly mothers in the eye, and say your product is safe."

Ms Rich said security was so high at dairy plants that one company CEO had told her he was unable to get through security at his own factory unless carrying the right credentials.

Ms Rich said the extra security measures and testing were costly and complex.

"That's why there's a lot of anger within the industry because this person has already cost the economy millions of dollars."

Markets' "calm" response

Mr Gallacher said they were providing the same information to overseas markets as they were to New Zealand consumers.

He said MPI appreciated how markets have responded in a "calm" manner.

"All the markets we are talking to and engaging with are still allowing the product through," he said.

Mr Clement said police had "many persons of interest" in the investigation.

He would not comment on who police had interviewed as part of the investigation.

He said police expected to gain more leads now the information had been made public.
"I think the public will solve this as they often do in serious investigations."

Mr Clement said any previous threats indications and attitudes in relation to 1080 were all of police interest.