Ngapuhi leader Sonny Tau's furtive taking of five New Zealand native kereru pigeon for consumption and then glibly apologising for this sacrilege beggars belief.

Some of us are well aware that Northland Maori still hunt native pigeon as do Tuhoe in
the Ureweras.

Customary right arguments are vacuous and protection was needed and given to kereru which only lays one egg a year and plays a very important part in our native forests by dispersing the seeds of our native trees for regeneration. The introduction of predators and the destruction of the keruru's natural habitat was bad enough – but to hunt them is unsustainable and spells doom for our native pigeon.

Being a Ngapuhi Maori leader, Sonny should know better and set the standard
for the protection of our native species.

But instead he showed reckless disregard for our wildlife laws and the conservation of
the kereru.

In the eyes of the rest of us to wantonly kill our native pigeons, which are struggling to survive along with other native birds, is unlawful, culturally insensitive and a crime too boot and prosecution is a must.

M Lally, Te Puke.