Influx of rabbits not so sweet

Has Easter’s proximity brought the rabbits out to play?

That’s the question pondered by some Porirua residents who believe there has been an increase in the number of rabbits occupying the central strip of land on State Highway 1, between the Paremata roundabout and Whitford Brown intersection.

The number of them killed on the road has also risen, Papakowhai resident Keitha Keegan says.

She has seen rabbits there for ‘‘a good six months . . . and they are spreading’’.

She says she counted more than 30 on one occasion recently.

But the regional council and New Zealand Transport Agency say it is nothing unusual.

There was a recent inspection of the land which determined the rabbit population wasn’t out of control and a cull was not necessary.

NZTA operations manager Mark Owen says they will keep an eye on the situation and believes motorists are used to seeing possums, hedgehogs and rabbits around the region’s roads.

‘‘While it’s fine for drivers to take action to safely avoid hitting animals on the road, we urge motorists not to do anything rash that could endanger the safety of themselves or others, such as sweve into the path of other motorists or hazards,’’ Mr Owen says.