A real life tale of Three Little Pigs is unfolding on Stewart Island. Three rare Berkshire pigs were taken to the island to help develop a self-sufficient farm in Half-Moon Bay, but local authorities want to protect the island's wildlife from predators so have given the pigs their marching orders.
Gavin Ferguson who brought the pigs to the island says he knew that feral pigs were banned on Stewart Island, but thought that domestic pigs were permitted - unaware that a bylaw had been passed last September that banned all types of pigs from the island.
Stewart Island is home to some of New Zealand's rarest native birds, including kiwi and kakapo. Authorities say that while they do not want to play the role of the big bad wolf, pigs pose too big a threat to wildlife.
"The difference between a feral and domestic pig is really just a fence," Richard Bowman from Environment Southland says. "And if a pig can escape and get out into the wild and breed then that's the difference. So we felt in a case like Stewart Island, it was better not to take any risks at all and not to have pigs there."
Despite spending thousands of dollars on deer fencing to properly contain the pigs Boris, Kobe, and Marble, the seven-month-old hogs have now been given their marching orders.
Mr Ferguson has been given one week to destroy the pigs or remove them from the island. Given the expense of removing them, he has decided to put them down.
Locals spoken to by 3 News say they were not keen on the clampdown.
"The whole thing's a bit ridiculous," local Bruce Ford says. "We've had pigs here for up to 40 years since I've been here, and they've never gone bush or feral like they say."
But despite the locals huffing and puffing, Mr Ferguson has had to cave in and will be serving the three little pigs their last supper on Friday.
3 News