All the tools needed

Fiona McQueen (Cruel poisons won’t return birdsong, Jan 14) may think 1080 is cruel, but extinction is the cruellest blow of all.

In the early 1960s, rats arrived on Big South Cape Island, near Stewart Island. In a short time, with no interference, they reached plague proportions. By the time Don Merton and Brian Bell were funded to translocate the rapidly declining bird populations three species were lost: the South Island snipe, the bush wren and the greater short-tailed bat. They managed to save the South Island saddleback.

This tragic loss of three species was a turning point in the fight against extinction. It proved many of our bird species cannot survive alongside mammalian pests. If we wish to avoid extinctions in the future we have to use all the tools we have in our box, and that includes biodegradable 1080. Julia Bracegirdle, Crofton Downs

Fiona McQueen’s argument against the use of 1080 for predator control fails, as the alternatives she suggests are either impractical, unaffordable or unavailable. As for ‘‘stepping away from the ecosystem’’ as she suggests, the consequences of this are too horrible to consider.

Dougal Cable, Waikanae

Another spot for garden

Craig Palmer (Letters, Jan 8) is spot on in saying the proposed Chinese garden is in the wrong place.

One has only to see the large numbers of children and adults who make use of Frank Kitts Park play area to realise that putting the Chinese garden there is a huge mistake. Far better to put it somewhere where it has more cultural associations. My pick would be the flat area beside the education centre at Pukeahu Park.

It would be in a line between the new Chinese embassy and the Haining St memorial to our hardworking early Chinese settlers. This would help underline how much we value the personal and cultural links we have with China.

A Chinese garden in that spot would also serve as a reminder that China was an ally in World War II and the garden could be a place of reflection on the folly of war after viewing the other countries’ World War I memorials.

Ross Macfarlane, Mt Victoria [abridged]

I am astonished to learn that the Chinese Garden, which is proposed to replace the well-used Sir Frank Kitts Park, will have to be closed at night – presumably from dusk. This is not the aim with any other section of public space on the waterfront. There is also a rumour there may be an entry charge. What benefit to residents is supposed to make this sacrifice of our public space acceptable? The waterfront from Oriental Bay to the rail station is used at all hours in all seasons. It should remain the jewel in the crown of our beautiful city. The Chinese garden is a welcome gift, but elsewhere in our city.

N M Cook, Oriental Bay