Predator control

Auckland Council carries out possum and rat control over the Hunua ranges. The previous control took place in 2018 when the rats were knocked down to zero per cent. By the following season, rat numbers were up to 79.5 per cent, way above the safety limit. Anything above 20 per cent and the native species rat control is supposed to protect are going to be in decline.

For 2019, 2020 and 2021 with rat numbers over 70 per cent, Auckland Council did nothing to protect its valuable native species. Why not? Because the Hunua area has been designated a four-yearly control area. Three out of the four-year cycle, the pests are allowed to go wild.

It’s an interesting ”’protection” system but not one likely to take us any closer to “predator-free”.

John Veysey, Coromandel.