Te Tautiaki Hoiho – Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust: Our Coastal Response to the Plight of Hoiho

Called into action by the plight of the hoiho, Te Tautiaki Hoiho Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust was founded in 1987 to restore the biodiversity of coastal ecosystems. As part of this response, the organisation purchased plots of land to provide coastal land sanctuaries for hoiho to safely breed, fledge, and moult. These sites include the Okia reserve, Otapahi, Tavora reserve, Omihi and Otekiho along the Otago Peninsula, and Irahuka Long Point in the Catlins. In purchasing these sites, the team have been able to undertake pest animal management, pest plant management, hoiho monitoring, and planting work in collaboration with community organizations, Rūnaka, and iwi.

Collaborating with a number of community and government groups, we manage the conservation of the hoiho across the coast of Te Waipounamu and Rakiura, responding to a wide range of threats and risks in changing environments.

To provide safe haven for hoiho to nest and raise their young, we are converting pasture to native forest. Reforesting with native plants enables biodiversity to strengthen and provide resilience in the face of changing environmental conditions. As part of this response, staff and volunteers at our native plant nursery raises native plants from seeds sourced from the reserves and sites we manage. From there, we engage with community groups and volunteers to put these plants in the ground. Throughout the year, we also maintain these plants to make sure they continue to thrive.

We are called into action by the plight of the yellow-eyed penguin to reforest landscape and seascape for a cooler planet, with penguins. We are committed to building biodiversity for resilience against the impacts of climate change, ocean warming and acidification. Our core activities are hoiho conservation, native reforestation, pest and predator control, community engagement, and advocacy.

Through our kaupapa, we have found that the conservation of hoiho requires a holistic approach to include the rehabilitation of other taoka species, te moana, and te taiao. For example, Okia reserve protects a wetland that serves as refuge for numerous taoka animal and plant species. Meanwhile, Irahuka reserve grows Aotearoa’s largest coastal turf.

He tangata are a necessary part of conserving the hoiho and their habitats. Hoiho are a taoka for Kāi Tahu whānui who hold mana whenua and mana moana across the hoiho range. Whakapapa binds Kāi Tahu whānau, hapū and iwi together with hoiho and te taiao. As mana whenua, Kāi Tahu are committed to honouring their tīpuna while fulfilling responsibilities as kaitiaki for hoiho. The ability of Kāi Tahu to use, access, and make decisions in relation to natural resources is fundamental to retaining mana and ahi kā. As such, our project includes advocating for the capabilities and capacities for tangata whenua to be kaitiaki for hoiho and te taiao.

Our organisation engages the community in a number of different ways. You are most welcome to join us in the mahi as a member, a volunteer or a general ally. We are currently reviewing our website, and will post information about our ongoing projects and campaigns that you can also make donations directly to. Alternatively, you can also make a donation through our website into our general pool of funds for us to then allocate to where we need them in our operations.

For more information visit yellow-eyedpenguin.org.nz

For partnerships send us a message at enquiries@yeptrust.org.nz

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