Aotearoa’s National Kororā/Little Penguin Conservation Organisation
We’re on a mission to see penguins flourishing around our coasts again!
NZ is the seabird capital of the world, but most penguin populations here are in trouble. Penguins are bearing the brunt of sea warming, biodiversity loss, plastic pollution and climate change.
NZPI was formed to help provide project support and facilitate cooperation between volunteers and community groups across the country dedicated to devoting their time to protecting penguins. Our particular focus is on the kororā, little penguin.
As an independent non-profit, our services are free and our information available to all groups who choose to join. Support can include project management, monitoring resources, training, threat mitigation support, equipment and data management.
Kororā / Little Penguin
Kororā are a taonga species (treasure) found nationwide in a variety of coastal habitats and are key indicators for the health of our marine and coastal environments. They have a charismatic nature that people easily connect with, which can foster strong environmental values and commitment towards sustaining biodiversity. They are a key flagship species and when penguins and their habitats are protected, our wider native flora and fauna benefits. Many colonies have suffered from declines across Aotearoa and we want to ensure they can exist in the future.
Kororā are facing a multitude of threats, both at sea and on land.
Many of these threats are human-induced and can be mitigated through land management and habitat protection to provide a safe home for Kororā.
Live by the coast and interested in Kororā conservation?
Our work
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Conservation
We support communities to protect their local Kororā populations and their habitats.
Kororā use a variety of habitats and spend significant amounts of time both on land and in the ocean. They are key environmental indicators and a flagship species; for when colonies are well protected, many other native species benefit.
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Research
Our Kororā National Monitoring Programme aids the understanding of population and breeding trends from colonies all across Aotearoa.
Our Kororā National Diet Study is helping us understand what key prey species are for different colonies, across different regions and throughout different seasons of the year.We also support dedicated research projects that help fill critical knowledge gaps, identify key threats and enhance penguin protection.
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Advocacy
Through our advocacy efforts we aim to help raise awareness, educate and share the work kororā conservation groups are doing to engage local communities and stakeholders.
We aim to strengthen decision-making policies to enhance the protection of kororā colonies all across Aotearoa.
“Penguins tell us about our world in a lot of different ways - and particularly the oceans. They are on the frontlines of sea change”
— P. Dee Boersma, Founder of Centre for Ecosystem Sentinels.
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