Re Bird Nonsense, Roy Edwards, October 12. An increase in pest control on Mauao and Leisure Island would not only be positive for the wildlife, but an investment in Tourism. Tourism is very important for Tauranga and it's not a good look when tourists see rats, which can also be regularly seen around the rubbish bins at Memorial Park.
A local success story of pest control is Otanewainuku, which I remember when this bush used to be silent and now bird life abounds, and because of extensive pest control, releases of Kiwi and Kokako have been possible. To have been involved with the Rena aftermath in wildlife recovery from the Coromandel to Cape Runaway, has indeed been an eye opener!
Following from this, it was very informative to have been one of ten locals at the Rena Debrief at Massey and one of many that still go out at nights collecting penguin data for a Massey Masters Project. I can only repeat that more pest control around the Mount area to protect our local penguin and petrel population is essential for conservation and tourism.

Tim Short, Ohauiti.