The ‘‘Hated Eight'' geese from Watson Park, having eluded capture last week, have been given an extra week's reprieve by the Dunedin City Council.
Port Chalmers volunteers have now been given until this Sunday to catch the geese, otherwise they will still be shot.
DCC parks and recreation group manager Richard Saunders said ‘‘adequate time'' was needed for the volunteers to attempt a live capture.
‘‘The group of volunteers has until the start of next week to try to relocate the geese. The plan is still to cull the geese if capture is unsuccessful,'' Mr Saunders said.
The volunteers were originally given until last Sunday to relocate the pesky gaggle from Port Chalmers to a Taieri farm after their toilet habits left sports teams having to dodge large piles of poo at Watson Park.
Rugby games and practices had been cancelled or moved due to health concerns.
Mr Saunders said the group had made ‘‘several attempts'' to catch them and would continue to do so.
The geese seemed oblivious to the kerfuffle they were causing, floating in the harbour nearby.
Last Thursday, Ravensbourne volunteer firefighter Glen Turner said spraying the grass with a non-toxic, food grade goose repellent would change the birds behaviour and they would not return.
He complained that emails outlining his idea had gone unanswered by the DCC.
Mr Saunders said he would respond to his idea when he had a chance to review his suggestion.
‘‘In the interim we will continue with the current plan. If repellent is an option we could look at it as a long term solution but it is too early to tell.''
