The work of the Hokitika Scouts with the West Coast Blue Penguin Trust was acknowledged with a West Coast Conservation Award, presented on Thursday. They have been supporting the work of the Trust since 2010 through participation in the annual census. This led them to see the problems faced by penguins as nest areas were being trampled by cattle and habitat had been cleared for development.As a result, they played a lead role in restoring habitat on the northern edge of Hokitika and have become keen advocates for penguins, for example explaining to friends, family and complete strangers the need to keep dogs under control on the beach.
Assistant Group Leader, Kim McPherson, said “we were quite happy to just sit in the back and tinker along. To get this recognition is really nice. The award will be hung with pride in our Scout Den.”
Ian Gill, of the Department of Conservation in Hokitika, put together a short film of the four winners of Conservation Awards, which is available on you tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=as8l_kaOG0A. He said “it’s thanks to the efforts of the Scouts that Hokitika folk are learning about a species that many didn’t realise lived on their beach. The future looks considerably brighter for little blue penguins.”
Mr Gill explained that the conservation awards celebrate community members who work on conservation projects, adding that conservation is a bigger job than can be achieved by DOC alone. DOC is keen to work with community groups, such as the Trust and the Scouts, as well as with individuals and businesses to enable and encourage more conservation achievements. “Together, we can make this the greatest living space on earth!”
