Trust Ranger, Linden Brown, reports that 2021 was one of the best breeding seasons for West Coast blue penguin/ kororā since monitoring began.
Trust Ranger, Linden Brown, reports that 2021 was one of the best breeding seasons for West Coast blue penguin/ kororā since our monitoring began!
With the recent run of fine weather we have been experiencing on the West Coast, it’s hard to remember that spring was actually quite wet and wild! This made for some quite challenging conditions for monitoring blue penguin/ kororā, with wet bush and slippery ground being of particular note. Kororā didn’t seem to mind however, with 2021 being one of the best breeding seasons on the West Coast since monitoring began.
Both of our two fortnightly monitored sites at Charleston had high numbers of breeding burrows, and a high number of chicks fledging from these burrows. The Rahui colony in particular had an exceptional year, with record numbers of chicks fledged from the colony! This colony is greatly benefiting from the work that former Ranger and Trustee, Matt Charteris has put into it over the years, including next boxes, trapping, and monitoring.
It appears that one couple whose first clutch failed laid a second clutch, both of whom fledged. Second clutches are unusual here on the Coast.
Site
Monitored Breeding burrows
Eggs laid
Chicks hatched
Chicks fledged
Chicks per breeding attempt
Breeding success
Failed breeding attempts
Rahui
31
62
58
58
1.87
93.5%
1
Knoll
23
45
39
37
1.61
82.2%
1
For comparison, the number of monitored breeding burrows the previous year (2020) were 27 at each site and breeding success 85.2% and 66.7% respectively. A year earlier, the 2019 season, was very different, with 18 and 26 breeding burrows monitored and only 22 and 28 chicks fledged, approximately 61% and 54% respectively. Sadly that year we found chicks that had died of starvation and dehydration, presumably due to hostile marine conditions possibly associated with El Nino and warmer sea conditions.
Blue penguin on nest guarding eggs (taken using burrowscope with gopro)
In addition to our two fortnightly monitored colonies, there are several other colonies scattered up and down the Buller coastline which we visit once or twice a breeding season. These colonies range in size from 1-2 breeding pairs up to around 20 breeding pairs. Although not as intensively monitored as our two key sites, our visits still provide us with valuable insight into population trends at these sites, and a long-term data set to help improve understanding of blue penguin/ kororā on the West Coast.
Site
Monitored breeding burrows
Chicks seen
Joyce Bay
14
16
Whitehorse
10
14
Bullock Creek
3
6
Punakaiki River
2
1
A day in the life of a Ranger - on the way to monitor penguins - not a bad job!
Masters student and our Ranger for the 2019 season, Luisa Salis-Soglio, is working on a scientific paper to share the results of her analysis of our breeding success monitoring between 2006 and 2019. We will share her findings on our website when the paper is published.
It's the Sooty Season and we have the latest from our new ranger Linden.
Our new Field Ranger, Linden, has been monitoring the Sooty Shearwater colony at Cape Foulwind and he reports: "Early reports are promising, with at least 15 breeding pairs on eggs. These eggs (and chicks once they hatch) are highly vulnerable to stoat predation, so the Trust maintains a trapline around the colony to keep stoat numbers to a minimum. Over the next month we will hopefully see some eggs hatching and little balls of fluff appearing!"
Sooty shearwaters are a colony nester, nesting in the far Southern Hemisphere. The breeding season lasts from September to May, and during this time, the birds are most active in the colonies at night. The nest is placed in a burrow dug in the soil by both parents.
Ranger Linden burrowscoping (Photo: Linden Brown)Burrowscoping is a useful way to locate and verify the presence of bird nests. We use this for petrels, shearwaters and penguins. (Photo: Linden Brown)Sooty shearwaters off the coast of Stewart Island. They are migratory birds that cover both the Pacific and Atlantic basins as they travel around the globe.
In the Atlantic, the birds can cover more than 12,000 miles in a year, traveling from their breeding colonies in the Antarctic up to their Arctic feeding grounds. The sooty shearwater is a near threatened species.
All photos taken by Kerry-Jayne Wilson unless indicated. Featured image of bird in burrow taken by Linden Brown.
Trustee Jill reports 100 % breeding success in her small colony near Charleston
Trustee Jill Cotton reports about blue penguins nesting close to her home:
"My birds had 100% breeding success this season."
She noted:
"There’s been a change in the visitor pattern to the beach here.
Two things:
International visitors had this beach north of Greymouth targeted on a website for several years bringing unwanted numbers looking for penguins during the day and letting dogs run around. Then the pandemic put paid to international visitors and erosion of the lane down to the beach and large shingle pile up made it more difficult for locals. We mainly have keen fishermen and their families now.
We had observed a reduction in visitor numbers of about 75% over the past five seasons. I feel the penguins have more confidence in continued breeding here now …..definitely less interference.
With growing interest in our local wildlife in recent years, I was pleased to learn about a unique situation in the sale of my neighbour's property. The house is on the same lane with three penguin nest boxes being used each season in the bush close by. My neighbour sadly passed away last year … he was a great friend to the penguins and asked his family to respect his wishes that the property be passed on to a similar person. The new owner is keen to look after and monitor the birds, which is great news.
I also have new tenants in my cottage …… penguin-friendly of course! We are off to a good start to the year."
Penguin box after moultTwo other active boxes close by… off the main track to the beach in the bush 40 meters uphill from the tide line and parking spot.
Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony Scientist, Dr Philippa Agnew, reports on transponder training with Trust Ranger Linden Brown back in November.
"We've had a very big week this week, inserting 197 microchips into little penguin chicks and adults! We couldn't have done it without help from a fantastic crew! Thanks to Rachel from the University of Otago, Deleece from Forest & Bird - Places for Penguins, Henry who used to work for us and came back to Oamaru give us a hand, Linden from West Coast Penguin Trust and our team, Nia, Kelsey & Philippa."
This was a fabulous opportunity for new Trust Ranger, Linden Brown. The West Coast Penguin Trust has been gradually using chips (just like those used for cats and dogs) to identify penguins and inserting the chips, known as Passive Integrated Transponders or PIT tags, and Linden will be tagging blue penguins at our Charleston study site this coming breeding season. Joining the team at Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony as they chipped their latest penguin chicks meant that he gained both the hands on experience and the necessary 'Level 2' wildlife banding qualification to inject the tiny chips under a penguin's skin.
The Trust is expecting to take delivery of a fixed PIT tag reader in time for the next breeding season. It will be installed at a pinch point where blue penguins come ashore and every time a chipped penguin passes the reader, it will be logged and a great deal more will be learned about the comings and goings of these penguins.
Ranger Linden joins Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony for transponder training
Kerry-Jayne speaks about her new book, New Zealand Seabirds - A Natural History
Kerry-Jayne Wilson's wonderful new book, New Zealand Seabirds - A Natural History, is out now from Potton & Burton publishers.
Kerry-Jayne was interviewed on RNZ National over the Christmas - New Year break and you can read or listen to the interview here:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/the-weekend/audio/2018826173/kerry-jayne-wilson-flying-with-the-seabirds
A wonderful comment after the interview from a listener and read out by the presenter was to the effect that they appreciated the time provided for Kerry-Jayne to respond. The answers to questions often needed quite a bit of background and story telling and there was plenty of time for that, unlike some interviews where the interviewee is constantly interrupted!
Also on RNZ National, Murray Williams reviewed the book in October prior to its release, and it's fair to say, that he absolutely loved it!
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018817307/book-review-new-zealand-seabirds-a-natural-history-by-kerry-jayne-wilson
We previewed the book recently:
https://www.westcoastpenguintrust.org.nz/news/new-book-new-zealand-seabirds-a-natural-history/
I was sending some Christmas cards to family and friends in England and wanted to add a gift - something flat, light, useful...
Then I thought about Oxfam Unwrapped and the Tear Fund who offer gift cards with a purpose, a chicken, a goat, clean water etc where they are most needed. Then I thought I'd like to do the same but with a conservation purpose and I found the WWF symbolic adoptions, and then, getting closer, the Phillip Island adopt a (symbolic) penguin.
Finally I thought that I'd really rather support the West Coast Penguin Trust. We don't have an adopt-a-penguin scheme and I just wanted to donate small amounts, so I created a card, printed them as I might a photo, popped them inside Christmas cards and made donations.
I thought you might like to do the same - for Christmas gifts to those near or far, by post or electronically, for as little or as much as you like.
Donate by direct credit to West Coast Penguin Trust 38–9011–0518009–00 (please drop us a line if you'd like a receipt)
Or drop some cash into a donation box, for example at J's Cafe and New World in Westport or Photo Corner, Wilderness Gallery or the Kiwi Centre in Hokitika
Phoenix Organics have been selling organic juice in glass bottles since 1986. As if that isn't good enough, they go above and beyond to support conservation and environmental causes.
Earlier this year, Phoenix Organics produced a limited edition special blend of apple, blueberry and lemon organic juice with a picture of and a message to 'save the little blue penguin'.
They contacted the Endangered Species Foundation, established in 2013 to support those working to protect rare species and nurture nature in Aotearoa and the Endangered Species Foundation chose the West Coast Penguin Trust to be a recipient of a donation from Phoenix Organics as a result of the blue penguin campaign.
Phoenix Organics has a long and proud partnership with Sustainable Coastlines, who work hard to protect beaches and waterways including working with several groups on the West Coast, and were the recipient of a Sustainable Business Award last week! The drinks company clearly cares about our natural environment and the West Coast Penguin Trust is honoured that their campaign and generous donation will help us to help blue penguins thrive on the West Coast.
It is also an honour that the Endangered Species Foundation selected our Trust. They are raising awareness of species at risk and doing all they can to give those species the best chance of survival through sustainable, long term support.
"I applaud the attention that [the Endangered Species Foundation] give to all species - not just the large charismatic birds and mammals, but also the less well known species of invertebrates, fungi, lichens, lizards, plants, amphibians, and even seaweeds. I wish them, and the species they support, all the success they deserve in this innovative project.”
- Dame Jane Goodall
Black Friday lands on us in late November with a deluge of advertising in every possible medium, enticing us to buy now and apparently offering once in a lifetime deals.
If you'd rather have a calm approach to some ethical retail therapy, have a look at our newsletter published this morning for some ideas, with links to our supporters.
For example, Tumbleweed Tees are calling it Donation Friday and sharing 10% of today's sales with all their conservation partners!
Read the newsletter here.
There are a couple of wonderful local supporters that were missed off the newsletter, so apologies and special mention goes to local author/illustrators who make a donation for every penguin book sold:
Jeanette Goode for her wonderful 'A Little Blue' book, which you can find online and in good book stores: https://jeanettegoode.co.nz/product/a-little-blue/
"A Little Blue is a hand-illustrated picture book loved by children of all ages. It is particularly relevant for reluctant readers as Jeanette has drawn the pictures to tell a slightly different and deeper story. It is a tale of love and the arresting power of nature."
and
Janet Gawn for her delightful Sandy Silkywings adventure with blue penguins, now available at Take Note in Hokitika:
"Sandy Silkywings, a house fairy who lives on the West Coast of the South Island in Hokitika" - and meets a blue penguin on one of her adventures. For younger children.See our post on facebook about both.
From Waka Kotahi - NZTA
To try and help protect the endangered seabird, the Westland petrel/tāiko, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency will again turn off highway lighting at night on a short section of State Highway 6 through Punakaiki this summer.
“In consultation with Buller District Council, all streetlights from Waikori Road in the south to Bullock Creek Road on the north side of Punakaiki will be turned off on Monday, 8 November 2021 and turned back on Monday, 10 January, 2022,” says Colin Hey, Senior Network Manager for Waka Kotahi.
Pedestrians, who are the main beneficiaries of the lights, are advised to take extra care at night during this time with cautionary signage being installed on either side of the 3.4 km section of highway affected.
“Buller District Council supports Waka Kotahi in this initiative to help protect fledgling Westland petrels from disorientation from streetlights and will darken its local road streetlights in the Punakaiki township during the same dates,” says Eric de Boer, Manager Infrastructure Delivery for Buller District Council.
The Westland petrel/tāiko fledglings or chicks nest in burrows and can become disoriented from bright lights under their flight paths causing them to crash land nearby, a phenomena known as fallout. As well as street-lights, any bright lights can attract these birds to land, and cause fallout.
Young Westland petrels disoriented by lights and rescued and released - photo Bruce Stuart-Menteath
“The breeding colony is just south of Punakaiki, with petrel fledglings beginning to fly from early November,” says Mr Hey.
Last year was the first season Waka Kotahi turned off the LED street-lights in Punakaiki. Initial results indicated that fewer birds were found disoriented or killed by vehicles in Punakaiki. More will be known next year after the second season with Punakaiki’s lights off.
Safer footpath
The footpath through Punakaiki has had a full upgrade this year as part of the new cycling/walking shared path, says Mr Hey, which will help night-time walkers in the settlement.
Background to this switch-off
In 2019, Waka Kotahi replaced six streetlights in the Punakaiki village which had badly corroded steel poles and were at risk of blowing down. LED fittings were used on the replacement poles, as is standard practice for all streetlight replacements based on energy efficiency and ability to direct the light.
“Following the installation, concerns were raised by the Westland Petrel Conservation Trust,” says Mr Hey. “They pointed out that artificial lighting, and particularly LED lighting, may accentuate the difficulties for the petrels and the fledglings, and may cause more ‘fallout’ or disorientation than the original high-pressure sodium lights.
“We investigated possible solutions to protect the young birds including changing the bulbs and fitting hoods to the new LED lights. To date no suitable, proven solution with existing street-lights has been found.”
A fraction of the original numbers surviving
The Department of Conservation/ Te Papa Atawhai says that today’s breeding population of about 6,200 pairs is a remnant of what would have originally been many hundreds of thousands.
With only one breeding colony in the world, the survival of every fledgling to breeding age is needed for the survival of this species, says DOC.
The main threats the Westland petrel/ tāiko continues to face are incidental bycatch in commercial fishing, introduced mammal predators, illegal releases of feral pigs into the breeding colonies and climate change, which alters prey availability and increases the frequency of severe weather events, which has caused the loss of breeding burrows to landslides in recent years.
Apart from the benefits provided to the petrels by the light switch-off, local residents and visitors to the area will also have the opportunity to see the night sky more clearly during this period.
Westland petrel chick in burrow - photo Bruce Stuart-Menteath
'Blue Penguins & Other Seabirds' will be ready for download and distribution soon. Watch this space!
Exciting news! Our new and updated education resource book, Blue Penguins & Other Seabirds has finally arrived.
We first published this fantastic resource and activities book in 2014 and it has been a very popular, fun, interactive tool for many teachers, educators and groups up and down the West Coast and all over New Zealand too. However because research is always changing and improving and we are finding out new things regularly, we like to make sure the information we are providing to educators and the public, is up to date too. Our education Ranger has also been out in the field trying and testing the activities with classes and schools along the West Coast, speaking to teachers and educators and it was time for a few edits and updates and even some new activities squeezed in too!
The drawing blue penguins activity is a favourite activity and adds the various ecological features – or super powers - that enable penguins to thrive
Our aim is to help Teachers and educators with all their planning and creativity to make units of work interesting and engaging for their class, take some weight off their shoulders by providing curriculum linked activities, which you can build a unit of work around, and knowledge to share with their class.
Teachers now need to include a local aspect in their delivery of the new coming curriculum, and, with most New Zealanders living near the coast, what is more local than penguins and other seabirds?
"Penguins can fit anywhere into our day to day learning."
Ever wondered where the education resource book started?
Education has always been a part of the Trust's work. In the early days of the Trust, we held our meetings around the region and offered classroom or field trip sessions with the local primary schools as we went, often connecting up with DOC rangers in the process. We recognized back then, that children could develop a lifelong value for nature, particularly in the age range 6-10 years, if they are given the opportunity.
Through lots of awareness work and connecting to schools sporadically, we were gradually becoming known on the West Coast. That often meant that where a teacher decided to include penguins in a project, they might call in team penguin to assist. The Trust was always delighted to be invited and presented activities whenever possible, but it became apparent that resources were being spread thinly.
We wanted to be able to reach more schools, work with more teachers, and connect more children with the wonderful nature on their doorstep. Thus the idea of an educational resource to support teachers and youth leaders to deliver fun educational activities was born.
We asked Zoe Watson, a primary school teacher at the time, and now the West Coast Enviroschools coordinator and WCPT newest Trustee, to lead the project. She had just delivered a new WWF educational resource about Hector’s dolphins to teachers across the region and this was to be her next project.
The very first action was to ask teachers what they would like and how they would use a resource. We found linking activities to the NZ curriculum was essential, and then making it available in both hard and digital copy to suit everyone.
The resource, Blue Penguins and other seabirds– activities for exploration and action for schools and community groups was launched in 2014. It takes teachers and children on a voyage of discovery, learning about penguins, the local beach and local issues, and then taking action to protect the local penguins. Each activity is linked to the curriculum and there are activities for the classroom and for field trips. Copies of the resource were sent to every school and youth leaders on the Coast along with others involved in environmental education such as DOC community rangers.
Our aim was and still is, to work with teachers who were interested in taking their pupils through the learning process, with our support, rather than doing one off last minute sessions on demand. Move away from the ‘Rent-A-Ranger’ feel and move into a more integral part of the NZ curriculum.
“The key to science education in primary schools is motivation - for staff and students. An exciting class will inspire both students and teachers to learn and to immerse themselves in the topic.In my experience, this is best achieved through the provision of outstanding teacher resources.Engaging kids with science is easy – teachers just need to remember to always relate science ideas back to their everyday lives.” (Brooke Topelberg, winner of the 2011 Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in primary schools)
Coming soon! Keep an eye on our website for an update of the launch!
St Patrick's Primary School students raise awareness
Woodpecker Bay Baches
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.
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.
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.
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/
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
We are lucky enough to live and work so close to the magnificent coastline which gives our region its name. But we’re well aware it’s not just our home and we consider it our duty to protect the wildlife around us through thoughtful planning of our sites and monitoring in our day-to-day operations.
The West Coast is home to kororā or little blue penguins. We consulted with experts and brought in a penguin-tracking dog to help us identify where penguins are nesting and to help us understand their movements. As a result, we altered our traffic management plan to ensure our trucks were not travelling either side of dusk or dawn to avoid disrupting kororā and their migration patterns.
The purpose of PIC is to pay the pensions of current and future policyholders. This focus delivers value for stakeholders.
Why the PIC penguins?
Emperor penguins have been central to PIC’s brand from the start. That’s because they’re memorable and intrinsically appealing, as well as striking to look at. Emperor penguins embody qualities that the PIC team works hard to emulate every day. They are:
Loyalty
They form lifelong partnerships, working together to protect and nurture their young and cooperating for the wellbeing of the group. Like them, our team invests time in building long-term relationships, showing ourselves to be dependable and dedicated.
Adaptability
Penguins have evolved to live successfully in water and on land, in many different climates. We too are adaptable, staying agile in a changing environment and evolving our business with innovative solutions to meet client needs.
Resilience
There are few animals on earth as tough as Emperor penguins, who withstand long Antarctic winters and endure months without food. PIC stays strong even in the harshest economic conditions and in the face of the most volatile markets.
The West Coast Penguin Trust is thrilled to share a love of penguins with PIC and to have received generous donations from them.
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 ThingCOMMUNITY – Stronger Together INNOVATION – Change for the BetterACHIEVEMENT – 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.
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.
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.
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/
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.
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.
"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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sooty shearwaters are a colony nester, nesting in the far Southern Hemisphere. The breeding season lasts from September to May, and during this time, the birds are most active in the colonies at night. The nest is placed in a burrow dug in the soil by both parents.
Ranger Linden burrowscoping (Photo: Linden Brown)
Burrowscoping is a useful way to locate and verify the presence of bird nests. We use this for petrels, shearwaters and penguins. (Photo: Linden Brown)
Sooty shearwaters off the coast of Stewart Island. They are migratory birds that cover both the Pacific and Atlantic basins as they travel around the globe.
In the Atlantic, the birds can cover more than 12,000 miles in a year, traveling from their breeding colonies in the Antarctic up to their Arctic feeding grounds. The sooty shearwater is a near threatened species.
All photos taken by Kerry-Jayne Wilson unless indicated. Featured image of bird in burrow taken by Linden Brown.
They contacted the Endangered Species Foundation, established in 2013 to support those working to protect rare species and nurture nature in Aotearoa and the Endangered Species Foundation chose the West Coast Penguin Trust to be a recipient of a donation from Phoenix Organics as a result of the blue penguin campaign.
Phoenix Organics has a long and proud partnership with Sustainable Coastlines, who work hard to protect beaches and waterways including working with several groups on the West Coast, and were the recipient of a Sustainable Business Award last week! The drinks company clearly cares about our natural environment and the West Coast Penguin Trust is honoured that their campaign and generous donation will help us to help blue penguins thrive on the West Coast.
It is also an honour that the Endangered Species Foundation selected our Trust. They are raising awareness of species at risk and doing all they can to give those species the best chance of survival through sustainable, long term support.
Phoenix Organics has a long and proud partnership with Sustainable Coastlines, who work hard to protect beaches and waterways including working with several groups on the West Coast, and were the recipient of a Sustainable Business Award last week! The drinks company clearly cares about our natural environment and the West Coast Penguin Trust is honoured that their campaign and generous donation will help us to help blue penguins thrive on the West Coast.
It is also an honour that the Endangered Species Foundation selected our Trust. They are raising awareness of species at risk and doing all they can to give those species the best chance of survival through sustainable, long term support.
If you'd rather have a calm approach to some ethical retail therapy, have a look at our newsletter published this morning for some ideas, with links to our supporters.
If you'd rather have a calm approach to some ethical retail therapy, have a look at our newsletter published this morning for some ideas, with links to our supporters.
