Every 2-6 years beech trees flower and produce massive quantities of seed, in an event known as a 'mast', and sampling by the Department of Conservation in February confirmed a mast was occurring in the Northern Ruahine Ranges this year.
The operation will begin after September 6, as weather permits, and will see cereal baits containing biodegradable sodium fluoroacetate, known as 1080, dropped over 30,000ha.