Questions have been raised over a three-week mission to locate and re-home three native skinks, at a cost of $85,000.

It involved clearing vegetation along State Highway Three near New Plymouth - and releasing one copper skink and two gold striped geckos at Everett Park Scenic Reserve.

Auckland University conservation biologist James Russell says the money spent was a fraction of the total costs of work on the highway.

He explained New Zealand is extremely bio-diverse - and gold-striped geckos are incredibly rare. 

"It's just another species where we don't know what's happening - and if we don't look, it'll just disappear and be another blot on our record."

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Questions have been raised over a three-week mission to locate and re-home three native skinks, at a cost of $85,000.
It involved clearing vegetation along State Highway Three near New Plymouth - and releasing one copper skink and two gold striped geckos at Everett Park Scenic Reserve.
Auckland University conservation biologist James Russell says the money spent was a fraction of the total costs of work on the highway.
He explained New Zealand is extremely bio-diverse - and gold-striped geckos are incredibly rare.&nbsp;
"It's just another species where we don't know what's happening - and if we don't look, it'll just disappear and be another blot on our record."
LISTEN ABOVE

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

James Russell: Auckland University conservation biologist on the $85,000 dollar mission to rescue three skinks

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/45f157c5-a0aa-4bbf-8aa9-b2b2005acb12/transcript