Police are warning anti-1080 protesters not to take the law into their own hands after a man threatened violence online.
A comment was made yesterday by an individual on a social media post centred around 1080, in which he threatened to shoot anyone he found distributing 1080.
"I say we start Shooting to Kill!! I'm serious," he wrote.
"If I catch anyone dropping 1080 ... YOU WILL BE DEAD."
A police spokesperson said while they recognise people have a lawful right to protest, "we don't want anyone taking the law into their own hands.
"We encourage anyone who has concerns, or information about threatening behaviour or criminal offending, to report this to us and we will follow up as is appropriate," the spokesperson said.
Anti-1080 protesters this week painted lewd graffiti on Oamaru's town sign on State Highway 1, leading to widespread condemnation from locals.
Auckland Council staff members complained on Sunday that they were barred from leaving Hunua Ranges Regional Park using chains by anti-1080 protesters, and also had graffiti sprayed on signage and facilities there.
Reports emerged last week that eight cows had died on a Waikato farm after a nearby 1080 drop.
The department says the animals appear to have entered an operational zone. (Source: Other)
Earlier this month, dead animals were dumped on the steps of Parliament by protesters during the 'Hikoi of a poisoned nation' - a day of nationwide protests.
It later emerged that the dead animals were not all, in fact, killed by 1080 poison.
Most experts insist 1080 is by the best and safest option to save native species and say science backs them up.
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