2 Wairarapa Midweek
Wednesday, December 21, 2016
Stopping flow of pollution Ford Every Stream
Gerald Ford Police are about to start testing wastewater in Auckland and Christchurch for traces of pee. No, scratch that – for traces of P (methamphetamine), along with cocaine, heroin, alpha PVP, MDMA and creatinine. The police say accurate information is essential in gauging the prevalence of use of these drugs in the community. Apparently the technique is used overseas and gather geographic and time-based data on drug use, without the ability to identify individuals. Similar testing in Perth has found 31.6kg of meth was consumed in the city area each week, that’s 1.6 tonnes a year. I guess the wastewater system is the endpoint of the flow of drugs through a community. Well, except for the rivers and the chunks of land that the wastewater is discharged to. Meanwhile police in Masterton are clamping down on the other end of the drug flow. By this I don’t mean the mouth, but the people who bring the drugs into the region in the first place – specifically methamphetamine. Two men, aged 25 and 29, were arrested early in December amid a heavy police presence in Featherston. A 26-year-old man and 27-year-old woman from Masterton were charged last week, as well as a 42-year-old woman and a 26-year-old man from Hutt Valley.
RACHEL
Detective Senior Sergeant Nick Pritchard of the National Organised Crime Group said the investigation, known as Operation Frozen, had exposed a distribution network involving the Head Hunters gang, which extended beyond Wairarapa. Wairarapa Detective Senior Sergeant Barry Bysouth said Wairarapa police were dedicated to clearing methamphetamine out of the community. “This is a good example of the work we’re doing in that area and we will continue to track down meth dealers in Wairarapa. The expectation from the public is that we protect our community from methamphetamine and we will continue to do so,” he said. Mr Bysouth said he would encourage anyone who is either struggling with methamphetamine themselves, or who knew someone who was, to seek help. “You can approach police direct, or make contact with Te Hauora Runanga O Wairarapa, or Pathways Wairarapa,” he said. “For anonymous help, you can call the alcohol and drug helpline on 0800 787 797.” Meth use is known to increase the incidence of violent crime and thefts and burglaries in a region, so it makes sense that police are cracking down on both ends of this poisoned stream. Speaking of poisoned streams, Carterton is looking to protect the Mangatarere Stream (and downstream the Ruamahanga River) from wastewater pollution. That’s another worthy aim and is to be commended. Both the people and the resources of Wairarapa do need protection from the things that would cause them harm, and we can all play our part. Merry Christmas, Wairarapa.
Wetland protectors Students from South Featherston School with their certificates of appreciation given by Department of Conservation senior community ranger Garry Foster, for their work on conservation signs to protect bird breeding at Wairarapa Moana. PHOTO/SUPPLIED. See story page 4.
Kids give presents
FOR NEWS Editor Gerald Ford (06) 370 0925 gerald.ford@age.co.nz
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Kids give presents wta141216gfgtown01 Greytown School pupils Pippa McLaren (left), Annalise Smith, Carlo Isaac and Tomoki Walker with presents donated and wrapped by students to be distributed through the Salvation Army. Some kids made their own wrapping paper. PHOTO/GERALD FORD
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