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Hello ! 

We are right in the middle of the penguin season with Ranger Lucy Waller busy monitoring breeding progress for both little penguins / kororā and Fiordland crested penguins / tawaki.  Both species laid eggs in the past few weeks and some penguin parents will be busy foraging to feed chicks. 

Lucy will bring news about the breeding success towards the end of the year but, for now, we have a few updates to share with you including the publication of our Annual Report, this time with a shorter, more colourful and digestible version!

Westland petrels or tāiko are also breeding now with chicks growing up fast ready for fledging from November.  DOC is bringing Tāiko Talks to Punakaiki on 17th October - a great opportunity and not to be missed if you can be there, details below. 

Other news includes a visit from penguin detection dog Miro and handler Jo, penguin protection fence inspections and maintenance, penguin fossil news and sharing penguin stories with zookeepers from around the world.  We also take time to thank organisations that have supported us with funding and share some wonderful penguin photos from the Falkland Islands. 

And we always want to thank you for your interest, support and encouragement.

Thank you!

Inger Perkins, Manager

Tāiko Talks - Punakaiki, 7pm 17th October

Here is a wonderful opportunity to find out about the latest research and work to protect Westland petrels or tāiko.  DOC's Project Lead Biodiversity, Kate Simister, will provide updates, Sunkita Howard will share her story about growing up with the petrels, and Mike Geddis will explain the adverse effects of lighting, how to minimise risk to petrels and he will provide an update on the application for the area to be an international dark sky sanctuary.  

The details are on the poster here

WCPT Annual Report 2024-25

It may sound boring, but it's actually exciting!  Our annual report celebrates the progress the trust is making and confirms our resilience and determination to keep working towards our vision. 

Find out more and open the reports here

Penguin detection dog Miro in action

Conservation dog handler Joanna Sim was on the Coast recently with her dog Miro and we joined her for a survey, Miro's nose doing so much better than humans on their own.

Find out more here

Penguin protection fences are keeping penguins safe

With volunteers leading the way, penguin fences north of Punakaiki and of Hokitika have been checked and damaging vegetation is being removed. 

Read all about the project here

Manager Inger spoke to the International Congress of Zookeepers

At their triennial conference in Wellington earlier this year, Inger told participants about the trust's work, emphasising the value of the relationship with Te Nukua Wellington Zoo and how zookeepers can raise awareness of conservation issues.

Find out more here

Penguin fossils, small and large, old and older, and right here on the West Coast too

Recently, we discovered that penguin fossil bones are being found on the West Coast.  And in fact penguin fossil bones were found north of Punakaiki in 1869.  New Zealand has the richest record of penguin fossils including the largest - that penguin was estimated to be 1.77m tall and weigh a whopping 154kg!  

Find out more here

Thank you to ...

With noses to the grindstone, it can be easy to forgot to say thank you where thanks are due.  We acknowledge and thank some of the organisations that support us with funding, flexibility and encouragement.  

Have a read here

Media interest in penguins dying on Coast roads

After four little penguins were killed in quick succession on SH6 between Greymouth and Barrytown, news media wanted to know why and what was being done.

Find out more including an interview and story

Bird of the Year 2025

Voting closes 5pm Sunday 28th September

Don't forget to get your five votes in for Bird of the Year!  While the very worthy yellow-eyed penguin won last year, perhaps it's the turn of the little penguin / kororā or Fiordland crested penguin / tawaki!

Vote for Bird of the Year 2025 here

Thank you to Awatuna Sunset Lodge

The owners of this small luxury local accommodation business have gone out of their way to support the WCPT and ensure little penguins/kororā are part of the local story for guests.  Thank you Elizabeth and Selwyn!

Find out about Awatuna Sunset Lodge here

Fabulous Falkland Islands penguin photos

One of our Supporters, Nicky Armstrong, is working in the Falklands for three years.  She takes her trusty pal Peng with her everywhere and their collection of superb photographs are available to enjoy.

Enjoy the superb photos here

As always, a very big THANK YOU to all our

supporters, donors, volunteers and the community for all your support.

ON A NEED TO KNOW BASIS ...

DOC hotline 0800 DOCHOT (362 468)

Handy to know if you come across an injured penguin or any sick or injured wildlife that seems to be struggling whilst out there on the beach, river mouths or roads.  If you see a little penguin / kororā on the beach it almost certainly needs assistance.  If you see a Fiordland crested penguin / tawaki on the beach north of Fox Glacier, it may well need assistance.  

Biosecurity NZ hotline 0800 80 99 66

To report groups of three or more sick, dying or dead birds, marine mammals or other wildlife.

Also, if you see or hear about a dead penguin, please let us know using our simple reporting form, ideally with a photograph and clear description of the location.  If you can have a look and it's obvious or apparent, your thoughts on possible cause of death would be very helpful.  We can then add the information to our database - which informs our conservation actions. If you can move the penguin out of sight and out of reach of tides and dogs, that will be helpful in case we need to collect it. 

Thank you. 

Coming soon in the next newsletter:

• Updates on the 2025 breeding season
• News from the schools
• Other penguin news
• And much more!

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West Coast Penguin Trust

info@westcoastpenguintrust.org.nz  |  www.westcoastpenguintrust.org.nz

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