emails obtained by newshub show a senior doc scientist is asking why the department isn't doing more to control one of new zealand's worst ecological problems cats they also show the frustration over a lack of leadership on the issue isabel ewing has more ikea makes light work of a cardboard box or a tramping pack but it doesn't stand a chance against a cat we've got a very large carnivore species that we're at the moment not addressing you know in a coordinated way these images show a cat lurking at ikea nest a threat well-known to doc's top
scientists not only for eating birds but also for the parasite in its poo which doc identifies as a key threat to maui's and hector's dolphins that's because toxoplasmosis washes out to the sea in an email chain discussing its research doc staff raised the question of which government agency is in charge of cat eradication the department's marine science advisor anton van halden writes it seems to me this is a critical issue that needs to be addressed if no one will take ownership then we're in real trouble doc science advisor graham taylor asks is it in the
too hard basket to which van helden replies everyone is waiting for someone else to take the lead feral cats are juggled by doc the ministry for primary industries and local government there's a lack of strategy for feral cats there's probably lack of research into how many are out there rare species threatened by cats include hoiho paateke brown kiwi kia oyster catchers and various skinks and geckos doc's vetter and scientist adds i think that's a sufficient list to justify spending some resources and for doc to take a lead on this and then there's the political hot
potato of pet moggies gareth morgan famously launched the campaign to wipe out cats a decade ago in the case of an unknown cat they should be destroyed just like a dog would be his daughter jesse says the dialogue has matured since then it's not a controversial thing anymore and i think we just need to recognise that it's that new zealand is ready for the conversation in the emails obtained by newshub veteran doc science advisor graham taylor says there are lots of pockets within doc trying to tackle cats but because they're not included in predator-free 2050
they lack the political clout translation no one wants to touch new zealanders precious cats conservationists say doc should be taking the lead on eradicating feral cats and as for our pets they say rules for cat owners are urgently needed but that requires the slow process of legislative change time that our rare birds don't have isabel ewing newshub
