New Zealand penguins – current knowledge and research priorities

Woodpecker Bay is the bay encompassing Fox River, just north of Punakaiki, on the wild West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island. Our West Coast accommodation consists of 6 self-contained baches situated along the coast of Woodpecker Bay. Woodpecker Bay offers remoteness and unmatched natural beauty and all of our baches have stunning ocean views and are right on the water’s edge. All baches have fully equipped kitchens and all linen is provided, all of our baches have free and fast WiFi. They are suitable for couples, friends and families looking to explore the beauty of the West Coast. We are thrilled to have been supporting the West Coast Penguin Trust since 2016.

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Funds are raised from visitor admissions and donations. To date, the fund has raised over $5,000,000 to support a wide variety of conservation projects aligned with the work of Auckland Zoo. We also provide financial resources for external organisations and individuals to carry out vital field conservation work in New Zealand and overseas. West Coast Penguin Trust's education programme was fortunate to be supported by the Auckland Zoo Conservation Fund in 2024-25.  The theme for grant support changes each year and conservation education was the focus of that funding round, fitting our work with schools perfectly.

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Westland Mineral Sands (WMS) is proud to announce its partnership with the West Coast Penguin Trust, strengthening its commitment to conserving the unique biodiversity of the region and supporting vital efforts to protect the kororā (Little Penguin). This partnership with the West Coast Penguin Trust reflects WMS’s commitment to balancing operational excellence with environmental stewardship. By prioritising the protection of the region’s precious wildlife, WMS aims to ensure the kororā can continue to thrive in their natural habitat for generations to come.

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Partnership announcement, 10th December 2024: https://www.westcoastpenguintrust.org.nz/news/wms-partners-with-west-coast-penguin-trust-to-support-penguin-conservation/ WMS Group website:   https://www.wmsnz.com/  

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Our Vision

“Building an intergenerational business for New Zealand”

We are committed to becoming a world leader in critical minerals that advance the shift toward a sustainable future. As we work towards achieving this, we will build a resilient business that benefits our company, the West Coast, and New Zealand for generations to come.

Caring for our local habitat

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The purpose of PIC is to pay the pensions of current and future policyholders. This focus delivers value for stakeholders.  

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Since 1985 we have returned over $1 billion back to the community, supporting thousands of good causes all around New Zealand.

Our Values

INTEGRITY – Do the Right Thing COMMUNITY  –  Stronger Together  INNOVATION – Change for the Better ACHIEVEMENT – Strive for Success A grant was made by the Lion Foundation in 2023 for the Trust's education ranger to deliver our education programme to West Coast schools.

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The Brian Mason Scientific & Technical Trust was established in July 1991 to receive and allocate grants for the advancement of scientific and technical objectives in Canterbury and Westland We are fortunate to have had a grant from this Trust to research and publish information about threats to Westland petrels - tāiko, the information proving invaluable in our advocacy work. A second grant was awarded in 2022 for little penguin - kororā - foraging study taking place over 2023 and 2024 breeding seasons.

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The Sargood Bequest is a charitable trust founded in 1939 by Sir Percy Sargood of the firm Sargood Son & Ewen.  Sargood Bequest actively supports community groups and individuals within New Zealand. The purpose of the fund is to make grants to projects and activities in the Children & Youth, Cultural, Sports & Outdoors, Educational and Environmental categories with a focus on Access, Participation and Inspiration.  The majority of grants made by Sargood Bequest are under $5000. The Trustees favour projects to which funds are specifically targeted.  From time to time the trust also makes larger grants or pledges over a number of years at the discretion of the trustees. The Trust has been fortunate to have been awarded grants principally for our Education work, but also for the Community Conservation Symposium.

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Westland Dairy Company - formerly Westland Milk Products, based in Hokitika. Westland. A place, a people, a brand and a spirit. It is this naturally determined, adaptive spirit that enables our customers to find their edge, to nourish life through our products we have made beautifully for generations. Westland Dairy Company have supported the Trust to print wildlife awareness signs for beach access points across the region and have been at pains to ensure penguins are protected at and around the pipeline drilling project site on the north edge of Hokitika.  Following that project, they remained committed to protecting penguins and have installed a penguin protection fence in the area to prevent penguins being killed on the state highway.  They have also generously assisted with the cutting of access ramps for penguins when erosion results in barriers between nest and sea. The Trust's relationship with Westland continues to grow and their support is hugely valued and valuable. https://www.westland.co.nz/en/company/purpose-and-values/

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Wellington Zoo is New Zealand’s first Zoo and Wellington’s oldest conservation organisation, caring for animals since 1906.  The Zoo is a not for profit charitable trust, and has been that way since 2003.  The Trust runs the Zoo on behalf of Wellington City Council. They are proud to be the world’s first carboNZero certified zoo and they became the first zoo to win the Environmental Sustainability Award at the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA). The zoo follows the WAZA commitments to excellence in animal welfare and conservation. They are also part of the Zoo and Aquarium Association - a regional organisation for zoos in the Australasian region.  ZAA manages the coordination of breeding programmes and sets the level of professional standards and practice for members.  They are proud to have been accredited under their Animal Welfare standards. The West Coast Penguin Trust is hugely proud to be a Conservation Partner, sharing an interest in improving the conservation management of Fiordland crested penguins and sharing information and resources that contribute to penguin conservation generally.

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Lottery Environment and Heritage provides grants for plans, reports and one-off projects that will protect, conserve and promote New Zealand’s natural, cultural and physical heritage. The Trust has received grants for three major projects, namely developing an education resource (2015), presenting the Community Conservation Symposium (2018) and the little penguin - kororā - foraging study 2023-2024.

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"Our value"

"A great journey is easy, safe and connected. Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is focused on providing one integrated land transport system that helps people get the most out of life and supports business. "We look after the national transport system with our partners, today and for the future. We’re innovating to make sure the system is efficient and sustainable, unlocking opportunity and keeping New Zealand moving. "We’re working to deliver our customer promise – great journeys to keep New Zealand moving."   Waka Kotahi NZTA recognised the risk posed to drivers on the Coast Road (state highway 6) at night, where penguins on the road could cause drivers to swerve off the road.  Their focus on safety fitted with the Trust's aim to protect penguins and keep them off the road and the Trust was hugely grateful for the agency's support managing the safety of the fence construction project.  Waka kotahi NZTA continue to support the penguin protection fence through an annual amount allocated to fence maintenance and extension, and used for this purpose by Westport based road contractor, WestReef, also very supportive of this project.

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The Department of Conservation has been the main sponsor of the Trust since its inception and continues to support our work with advice, collaboration and encouragement. We're very fortunate to work with such a passionate group of people throughout the West Coast region.

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The West Coast Community Trust manages its investments and apply income by way of grants for charitable, cultural, philanthropic, recreational and other purposes in Buller, Grey and Westland. The Trust has been fortunate to receive grants for its education and its awareness programmes.

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The West Coast Penguin Trust is thrilled to have support from the ANZ Staff Foundation.  A grant in 2019 was followed with another in 2021, both supporting our growing education programme. Read about the ANZ Staff Foundation and their support here. And read about and watch the wonderful little film that ANZ made about our work here. 

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We know next to nothing about tawaki’s marine ecology, their foraging ranges, which prey species they consume and at which water depths they forage. Critical information is missing to assess how human activities might impact on tawaki, be it ongoing climate change, fisheries activities or pollution of the marine habitat with mining effluents or oil-leaks. This project will address the key aspects of tawaki’s marine ecology throughout the range from South Westland to Stewart Island. We will:

• examine their foraging strategies across the different marine environments they inhabit
• study the spatial distribution of their diving activities to determine whether there are specific hot spots at sea
• investigate which marine and terrestrial aspects affect the species’ population dynamics

We also collaborate with the West Coast Penguin Trust to further knowledge and conservation management for tawaki through our collaboration as The Tawaki Coalition.

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Enviroschools is a nationwide programme supported by Toimata Foundation, founding partner Te Mauri Tau, and a large network of regional partners. Early childhood centres and schools commit to a long-term sustainability journey, where tamariki/students connect with and explore the environment, then plan, design and take action in their local places in collaboration with their communities. We are fortunate to be able to use key structures from the Enviroschools programme in our education programme and we join forces with Enviroschools - coordinators and schools - where we can for even greater environmental education outcomes. The Trust has also worked with Enviroschools for the West Coast to establish a network of environmental educators in the region.

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