KEY POINTS:
Tests have revealed pellets dropped by protesters in Hagley Park on Saturday were not 1080 poison.
The pellets were scattered near the Harper Ave part of Hagley Park early on Saturday morning, and messages warning of 1080 poison were written along the pathways.
The Christchurch City Council confirmed the pellets had been tested and were not 1080.
Botanical services operations team manager Jeremy Hawker said it was believed all of the pellets had been removed from the area.
Signs warning people to keep their dogs on a leash in that part of the park will be taken down today, Mr Hawker said.
Police had been advised of the hoax.
The drop followed the closure of Christchurch's botanical gardens in May after fake 1080 pellets were dumped there alongside notices made to look like genuine Department of Conservation signs.
There has been a long history of opposition to the controversial 1080 pesticide, with opponents concerned about its impact on the environment.
In Wellington today, all occupants of the 18-storey Pastoral House on The Terrace were evacuated when a package believed to contain the poison was delivered to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry mailroom.
Police were this afternoon working to identify the substance.
- NZPA
