Council staff carrying out a possum control programme on the West Coast are now doing their job with personal bodyguards.
Security guards were flown to Greymouth after protests over the use of 1080 poison escalated.
Two weeks ago an Animal Health Board worker's pet dog was poisoned.
At that time the board's West Coast Manager, Chris Pullen, told Morning Report he feared the protests were getting out of hand.
Mr Pullen now says there are now two - three guards on duty at each site, where six to 10 people are working.
All board personnel have also been advised to be personally vigilant in regard to their pets.
