A group of Great Barrier Island residents are concerned by Department of Conservation plans to use poison to control pests on a nearby island.

Nearly 300 signatures have been collected by a petition urging DOC to review their decision to use brodifacoum poison on Rakitu Island in Auckland's Hauraki Gulf to control pests.

Rakitu Island is a small offshore island about two kilometres north east of Great Barrier Island and is home to a diverse population of native birds.

READ MORE:

* The science and ethics of using poison to protect wildlife in the Brook Sanctuary

* Small group protests brodifacoum drop planned for Brook Sanctuary

Spokesperson Elise Bishop said locals felt DOC hadn't explored other options adequately such as using A24 traps.

"They cost about the same as using brodifacoum, we don't understand why they haven't considered using the traps."

Bishop said the local community wanted DOC to work with them in an attempt to come up with a poison-free eradication programme.

"There have been studies that show this poison has been found in the liver of birds of prey, there seems to be uncertainty on the long term impact of these second generation anticoagulants."

Brodifacoum is available as an over the counter rat poison and works by causing internal bleeding when an animal eats it.

Bishop said one of their main concerns is the aerial drop will include spraying bait at seaside cliffs which could contaminate the ocean.

DOC director of operations for the Auckland region Andrew Baucke confirmed it plans on undertaking pest control on Rakitu Island using brodifacoum.

"It's likely to take place during the winter of 2018 depending on suitable weather conditions."

Baucke said they were aware of the petition and would respond once they received it.