A trust involved with caring for kōkako is frustrated by the Conservation Department's approach to pest control.
Most kōkako conservation in Aotearoa is managed by volunteer community groups, who rely on the department to sign off on, among other things, pesticide licensing.
The system is leaving some disgruntled by the red-tape, growing pest numbers and decreasing bird populations.
Kaharoa Kōkako Trust chair Graeme Young spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.
The Department of Conservation declined RNZ's interview requests but DOC's Rotorua Operations Manager, Zane Jensen, said in a statement it is important a rigorous process is followed to meet DOC's obligations.
