Every year, the Trust compiles its achievements, hopes and thanks into an Annual Report from the Chair. This year, Trust Chair, Reuben Lane, looks back on his first year in the role.
Highlights include a successful application to the Department of Conservation Community Fund, giving the Trust three years of security with around 56% of our costs being met and the confidence to employ a permanent part time year round Ranger, and we’re delighted to have the very experienced Matt Charteris in that role.
The New Zealand Penguin Initiative came into being on the back of work by Kerry-Jayne Wilson and Dr Thomas Mattern to review the research and conservation status of all New Zealand penguins. Our Trust will be working closely with the NZPI team to ensure our methodology and reporting are consistent with those of other penguin conservation groups around the country. That includes our newly established Fiordland crested penguin or tawaki breeding success monitoring programme.
Our Education programme led by Lucy Waller has grown strongly over the 2019-20 year and Lucy is now working with 15 Coast schools and other penguin groups outside the region are keen to borrow our education resource.
Special thanks go to Wellington Zoo Trust, the West Coast Community Trust, the ANZ Staff Foundation, the Sargood Bequest and the Buller Council Community Fund for their generous financial support of our work last year.
Read all the highlights and more detail in our WCPT Annual Report 2019-20.
We have a fabulous opportunity to maintain and extend our penguin conservation projects, from research into threats to practical solutions, education and advocacy.
