A Tauranga man is questioning the Tauranga City Council's lack of notification during rabbit culling that resumed on Mauao recently.

Mark Newman was walking around Mount Maunganui last Tuesday evening when he was surprised to hear a man shooting rabbits while large crowds of people were walking around.

Rabbit cullings on Mauao have resumed, but Mark Newman is concerned about the lack of notification and public safety shown by the Tauranga City Council.

'There was a gentleman with a .22 rifle potting rabbits with no postings, no warnings, no nothing.”

After ringing police about the incident, it was explained to Mark the council has registered the shootings by a pest control contractor as part of their culling process.

'I was taken aback the council hadn't put up notices. All they had to do was put up a paper notice on the Mount side and the Pilot Bay side that there were rabbit shootings.”

Mark say he is all in favour of the rabbit culling, but by not posting any detailed signs on the shootings robs people of their ability to decide whether they want to be in the area at the time.

'The advertisements are really not sufficient. The guy only needs to take ten minutes to post a piece of paper.”

However, Mauao park ranger Mark Ray says they don't tend to notify the public on the whereabouts of the contractor to ensure he is not followed.

'The pest control contractor rings police minutes before he enters and minutes after he leaves as well as contacting myself and the camping ground.”

This was the contractors - wearing a high visibility jacket – first of three monthly shoots following a reduction in visitor numbers during the summer period.

When SunLive told Mark about the council policy on notifications, Mark laughed at the suggestions, questioning whether they are trying to avoid a crowd rather than public safety.

'I guess it depends on one's view of the public. If one's view is of voyeurs then yes they are right. However, if you're more concerned about the public perception of safety then they are 180 degrees wrong.”

Pest control officers regularly shoot the rabbits throughout the year, with a combination of night and day shoots.