KEY POINTS:
Claims children could eat rat poison dropped on two Hauraki Gulf islands are "scaremongering", says Auckland Regional Council chairman Mike Lee.
Friends of the Earth has criticised Department of Conservation to plans make aerial drops of the rat poison brodifacoum, saying children could eat the poisoned pellets.
But Mr Lee, whose council made aerial drops of brodifacoum in 2004, said the idea of a child picking up an intact pellet was "absurd".
"Friends of the Earth is scaremongering when it suggests children could pick up the baits. They break down very quickly," said Mr Lee, a long-time supporter of the planned bait-drop on Rangitoto and Motutapu.
"The environmental benefits far outweigh the risks."
DoC wants to turn the islands into a 3842ha safe area for threatened native wildlife and plants such as kiwi, kaka, tuatara and mistletoe.
Mr Lee said killing the "army" of rats and mice on the islands would create a wildlife sanctuary 20 times the size of popular haven Tiritiri Matangi.
"The Rangitoto landscape is iconic but its forests are essentially dead," he said.
He said the removal of pests could result in bellbirds, parakeets and robins returning to visit gardens in mainland Auckland.
"This will enable the islands to become one of the most important ecosystems in New Zealand, only 30 minutes from Auckland."
Mr Lee said the eco-group had raised similar arguments about safety before aerial drops of brodifacoum on Little Barrier Island and Tawharanui Regional Park in 2004.
"It's disappointing to see the same arguments raised that have been answered in the past."
