Professional hunters have been hired to carry out a pre-Christmas cull of feral pigs in Auckland's Waitakere Ranges.
The operation targetting the animals, which are covered in the Auckland Regional Pest Management Strategy, starts on Tuesday.
Three professional hunters with dogs are being brought into the area to reduce ecological damage caused by the wild animals.
Ranger Stephen Bell says the wild pigs are rooting up the ground and eating native plants, insects and birds.
Mr Bell says pigs cannot be hunted by members of the public, but can be killed by authorities under the pest management strategy.
Hunters will be use firearms in very close-range circumstances, away from walking tracks.
Mr Bell says they hope to get a clear idea of exactly how many pigs are in the area.
