Helicopters will begin dropping poisoned rat-bait on Rangitoto and Motutapu islands in less than a fortnight as the Department of Conservation prepares to repopulate them with rare birds including the kiwi.
The bait drop is the latest stage in more than a decade's work to turn the islands into a
bird sanctuary.
Between June 15 and the end of October, helicopters will sprinkle the islands with green bait containing the rat poison Brodifacoum. There will be three bait drops lasting two to three days at least two weeks apart and the islands will be closed for a week after each drop.
DoC spokeswoman Sandra Jack said the aim was to create a sanctuary like Tiritiri Matangi island closer to Auckland. The same techniques and baits would be used.
However, Friends of the Earth opposes dropping Brodifacoum on the islands. When the plan was announced last year co-director Bob Tait said the islands should be closed for a month after the poison drops rather than a week to minimise the risk of children accidentally eating the bait.
Ms Jack said notices would be posted on ferries to the islands advising people to keep an eye on their children in the few weeks after the bait drops.
"You would have to eat a lot of it [to be harmed]," she said.
About 30 staff will be involved in each bait drop, loading helicopter buckets and keeping an eye on operations from the ground.
After each drop bait will be cleared from the areas where dotterels make their homes in case the rare birds become ill from eating sandhoppers or other insects affected by the bait. Possums and wallabies were cleared from the islands in 1996. Once the remaining pests are gone DoC will introduced kiwis and other ground-dwelling birds, while strong fliers such as bellbirds and tui are expected to find their way over in larger numbers.
