Northland iwi Ngai Wai is backing a plan by the Department of Conservation to eradicate kiore (native rats) from Taranga (the Hen and Chicken islands).
DoC says the kiore is a taonga, because it travelled with Maori from the Pacific islands.
It says the iwi approved the poison drop because it also has a kaitiakitanga (guardianship) responsibility for species like native lizards, korimako (bellbirds), kukupa or kereru (native woodpigeons) and kaka (native parrots).
DoC says Taranga has national ecological value.
