The chair of Northland's Regional Council says it is up to the Department of Conservation (DoC), not the community, to save the region's dying forests.
A screenshot from the drone footage. Photo: Supplied
Bill Shepherd said the council was happy to work with DoC and would do so "at the drop of a hat".
The council had supported DoC's efforts in Warawara Forest by funding pest control on surrounding private land.
But most of the endangered forests were owned by DoC and the department should be leading the charge to protect them, and educate the local communities, he said.
Conservation Minister Maggie Barry said DoC was willing to use 1080 in Northland and she would encourage all Northlanders to back the use of the poison.
But a DoC manager last week declined the council's offer to make a joint approach to the government for 1080 funding, saying some communities were opposed to the poison.