Media Release
10 May 2012

Little Blue Penguins helped by two Wellington icons

As part of their ongoing commitment to local conservation, Wellington Zoo Trust is formalising their partnership with Forest and Bird on the Places for Penguins project. The shared vision of Wellington Zoo and Forest and Bird for the protection of Wellington biodiversity will be confirmed on Friday with the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding between the two organisations.

“We are excited about cementing and celebrating our relationship with Forest and Bird, as conservation is at the heart of everything we do at the Zoo,” says Chief Executive Karen Fifield. “Our commitment to wildlife extends far beyond the Zoo. Participating in Places for Penguins is part of our active involvement in the conservation of wildlife that we share our city with.”

The Places for Penguins initiative was launched in 2007 in order to reverse the population decline of Kororā, by assisting with habitat restoration and effective pest control. This has been made possible with support from Wellington Zoo, Greater Wellington Regional Council, and Wellington City Council.

Since 2009, Wellington Zoo and Forest and Bird have been working together to set up over 125 nest boxes around Wellington’s South Coast to ensure prime, safe nesting sites for Kororā. All Zoo staff can help out, with teams visiting the coast weekly to monitor the nest boxes and keep an eye on the environment where the penguins nest.

“All of us at the Zoo have a strong affinity with the Kororā, as we share our city with them,” said Ms Fifield. “We love having the opportunity to share our local conservation stories with over 200,000 visitors who come to the Zoo – so that our wider community can also learn about how responsible pet ownership can help our Kororā on the coast.”

“Over 200 visitors came along during Seaweek to help us build penguin nest boxes; and attended our Moa Point Beach Clean Up, where we collected over four cubic metres of rubbish from the coast. We know our community loves our Kororā just as much as we do, and we are looking forward to sharing even more with them as we take this new relationship forward.”

Places for Penguins are hosting a weeding day at Tarakena Bay on Saturday 19 May between 10am and 12pm in order to clear the area for new native planting. All members of the community are invited to join in, with hot drinks and biscuits offered to eager volunteers.

The Memorandum of Understanding will be signed at Wellington Zoo on Friday 11 May at 9am. The Mayor of Wellington, Celia Wade-Brown, will attend the signing session.

Wellington Zoo is a charitable trust principally funded by the Wellington City Council

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