In order to understand whether and if so which predators were contributing to an apparent decline in the numbers of Fiordland crested penguins, the West Coast Penguin Trust embarked on a four year study using trail cameras in 2014. For the 2019 season, which followed a ‘mega-mast’ seed event and predicted rat and subsequently […]
Māori Name Tawaki Scientific Name Eudyptes pachyrhynchus Other Names Used Fiordland penguin The Fiordland crested penguin, or tawaki, has had its threat classification reduced from ‘Nationally Endangered’ to ‘Nationally Vulnerable’ and most recently to ‘Declining’ as the population is found to be larger than previously thought. However it remains one of the rarest penguins […]
September 2025 Penguin fossils have been popping up in the news in recent years so it was interesting to discover that they are also being found on the West Coast recently. First, a bit of background. New Zealand boasts the world’s richest record of penguin fossils. They reveal that ancient penguins were diverse in size, […]
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 […]
September 2025 In the constant hustle of grant applications, project implementation, and reporting, it can be easy to overlook the simple yet important gesture of expressing gratitude to the organisations that provide funding. The process can become so focused on getting the work done, all the essential behind the scenes efforts, meeting deadlines, and fulfilling […]
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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September 2025 Back in February, the International Congress of Zookeepers (ICZ), held their triennial congress in Wellington. Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo Chief Executive, Karen Fifield MNZM, has been President of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) for the past two years and was instrumental in bringing the ICZ Congress to Wellington. The West […]
September 2025 This year, the West Coast Penguin Trust has released both a colourful summary and the usual Annual Report for 2024-25. They are full of news about the trust’s projects, from field work to fundraising, foraging to fencing, and covering research, education, awareness and advocacy. Our Vision remains “Sea and shore birds and their […]
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