A 1080 protestor from New Plymouth has been charged with blackmail, accused by police of sending a series of threatening letters to Department of Conservation staff.
The 65-year-old, who police have not named, was taken into custody yesterday after an investigation that lasted over a year. He is set to appear in court tomorrow.
Police said he sent four letters between September 2017 and yesterday.
"While we understand the strength of feeling by some in our community about the use of 1080, it is never acceptable for this to be expressed in the form of threats to individuals," Central District Crime Manager Detective Inspector Ross McKay said in a statement, declining to give additional details about the investigation.
"DOC staff should be able to go about their lawful business without the fear of threats and intimidation," he added. "Anyone considering resorting to unlawful means to advance their cause in this way should think very carefully about the consequences of their actions, and know that police will thoroughly investigate."
The last three months have seen a spike in harassment and threats to Department of Conservation staff, both in real life and online, DOC officials told 1 NEWS last week. Most of it appears to be motivated by 1080, the agency contends.
Department of Conservation staff say in the past month they've had their car tyres slashed and wheel nuts loosened.
An east coast ranger is currently on leave due to persistent violent threats connected to 1080, and contractor Blandy Witehira said he was recently threatened by a knife-wielding anti-1080 activist in the Bay of Islands.
"What I've been told is that I need to be eliminated," he told 1 NEWS. "My partner, at the moment, is back in Colombia, her home country. She cries 'cause she worries about me and my dog."
DOC director-general Lou Sanson described the letters leading to yesterday's arrest as "extremely nasty". But they're far from the only ones, he said.
"Last year, we had wheels being slashed, tyres being unbolted, [and] rocks through some of our windows," he said.
Some examples of more recent threats range from billboards posted with messages such as "blood will flow" to a post on DOC's Facebook page that read: "Hi hope your enjoying your day, I'd just like to say, if my daughter is effect by 1080 poison due to it being tossed into our water supply, I myself will find each of you doc muppets and slaughter the skin off your faces and have you living inches before death."
The judge stated Jeremy Kerr's actions had the potential to disrupt our economy and international trade.
He is linking the escalation of threats to the recent 1080 hikoi to Parliament.
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