Protecting Kaikōura’s Little Penguins With Secret Safe Zones

Thursday, 12 June 2025, 5:24 pm
Article: David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter

Secret nesting areas for Kaikōura's little penguins are among the measures being considered to help the at-risk seabird.

Kaikōura Wildlife Centre Trust manager Sabrina Luecht said she was pleased to have the backing of the Kaikōura District Council as she worked to protect nesting sites along the coastline for little penguins / kororā, which are at risk of local extinction.

The birds face threats from cats, dogs, introduced predators and human disturbance.

''Dog attacks, cat predation, introduced predators, and excessive human disturbance continue to be the primary threats on land for at-risk penguins,'' Luecht said.

''Penguins are already suffering extensively from decreased reproductive success and increased mortality, due to starvation at sea.''

The trust has launched Project BlueBird and is looking to work with staff from the council, Environment Canterbury and the Department of Conservation to introduce protection measures.

Protections include establishing reserves, but not disclosing the sites, for fear people will seek them out.

''Coastal reserves will address land based threats, with the aim to increase survival,'' Luecht said.

The aim is to provide spaces where penguins can come ashore and nest or moult, by providing fenced off areas and nesting boxes.

She has already been working with council staff to place nesting boxes at selected sites, in conjunction with the council's Wakatu Quay project.

The Kaikōura Community Shed has been supporting the project by building the nesting boxes.

The trust also facilitates emergency care, in collaboration with the South Island Wildlife Hospital in Christchurch.

The Kaikōura District Council agreed to support the proposal in principle at a meeting last month, with a site visit planned for this month.

The project is being funded by the Kaikōura Wildlife Centre Trust.

The trust is run entirely by volunteers and relies on donations and in-kind support.

Its long-term goal is to establish purpose-built treatment facilities for unwell wildlife.

The little penguin is thought to be the world's smallest penguin. According to DOC, an adult little penguin is just over 25cm tall and weighs about 1kg.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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