Regional parks in the Hunua Ranges south-east of Auckland are open this weekend while preparations continue for an aerial drop of 1080 poison to kill predators of the threatened kokako bird.
On Thursday, a team of three helicopters using satellite technology for pin-point accuracy dropped non toxic cereal pellets over one of two blocks in the 21,500ha parkland - to get the target pests used to it.
Auckland Council said the actual poisoned baits would be dropped on August 10, depending on suitable weather.
Watercare Services said it had two water storage dams in each block in the ranges that provide 60 per cent of Auckland's drinking water.
Although helicopters were forbidden to fly over dams, Watercare said it would take dams out of service during the application and carry out rigorous testing on numerous water samples.
