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The Department of Conservation is being accused of botching an aerial 1080 drop in Egmont National Park after it dumped the poison on its own contractors.
And video evidence suggests it also flew outside approved areas.
Some of the contractors spoke exclusively to ONE News reporter Michael Parkin even though they fear losing their jobs.
They say DOC contractors spraying weeds ended up showering them in 1080 poison from a helicopter working for the department.
"We've got poison dropping on top of us, we just wanted to get the hell out of there...... it's a scary thought," says Lewis Beattie.
After the 12 man crew got out of the area in Lucy's Gully, Dan Beattie sought answers but said the person he talked to "didn't have a clue".
He says a short time later the chopper went over again and "dumped a whole lot more 1080 on us."
Dan says they were phoned and warned about the drop after it happened.
The Beattie brothers, who admit they staunchly oppose 1080, captured cellphone footage of the pellets and contacted ONE News. They say a lot of the men on the crew will not say anything about the incident because it is their livelihood.
DOC says it was under no obligation to warn the contractors in the moments before the drop, claiming they had been told two days in advance that, weather permitting, the poison could be spread.
"The courtesy call is the 48 hours notice and the choice that they can make to be in there or not. We don't consider people were at risk while they were in the park while this operation was on," says DOC spokesman Phil Fleury.
A resident who filmed the helicopters did not want to appear on camera but says she was horrified at the number of times he choppers were carried over her house and waterways used by properties and farms downstream. And the video appears to back up her claims.
But DOC says that's not possible. "In the area that it has been alleged we flew outside the park clearly the helicopter did not go outside the park boundary. These operations are tightly controlled with the use of GPS technology," says Fleury.
Taranaki District Health Board is investigating the aerial operation.
