Escalating Tensions on Rakiura as Conservation Staff Face Weekly Abuse

DOC staff on Stewart Island report 75 security incidents amid a deepening divide over the use of 1080 and toxic baits in the predator-free Rakiura project.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 11, 2026, 4:07 AM EDT

Source: RNZ Pacific

A Community Divided by Toxic Baits

The core of the unrest lies in the methodology used for pest eradication, specifically the aerial application of 1080 and other toxic baits. While DOC maintains these methods are essential to protect taonga (treasured) species, a significant portion of the local population remains fiercely opposed. The Protect Rakiura Trust, a community group representing roughly one-third of the island’s residents, has criticized the use of toxins as "indiscriminate." Tensions reached a peak following an August 1080 drop that resulted in a higher-than-expected kill rate of whitetail deer, a vital resource for the local hunting community.

Documentation of Security Breaches

According to internal risk management records, the 75 security incidents encompass a range of hostile behaviors. While verbal abuse and social media harassment are the most frequent, more serious reports include theft and damage to boats, "obscene behavior," and incidents involving hazardous substances. Aaron Fleming, DOC’s Southern South Island Operations Director, noted that while some abuse stems from a "vocal minority" within the island community, a portion of the harassment originates from anti-toxin activists across the country and even internationally via digital platforms.

Allegations of Disenfranchisement and Arrogance

Local residents and stakeholder groups, such as the Rakiura Whitetail Trust, have expressed a profound sense of exclusion from the decision-making process. Antony Simpson of the Trust described past engagement sessions as "box-ticking exercises," arguing that the project is being dictated by "people on the mainland" rather than those who live on the island. Furhana Ahmad, head of the Protect Rakiura Trust, went further, describing DOC’s approach as "arrogant" and stating that residents feel like "an experiment." Ahmad has also accused the department of inflating incident reports to disparage those in opposition a claim DOC categorically rejects.