In 2011 the container ship MV Rena grounded on Astrolabe Reef in the Bay of Plenty, spilling 350 tonnes of heavy fuel oil into the ocean.
This spill caused widespread harm to wildlife including native seabirds and shorebird species.
Following the disaster, WWF-New Zealand worked alongside the Western Bay Wildlife Trust to rescue nearly 400 little penguins/kororā in the area.
Thirteen years later a conservation project is making sure that the kororā colonies affected by the Rena oil spill are not forgotten and continue to thrive.
The Mauao Kororā Reproduction Monitoring Project, led by the Trust, continues to look after the little blue penguin colonies in the area and it’s great to see this important mahi continue.
Trustee Julia Graham says kororā across the motu still have a tough road ahead: “Three La Niñas in a row, overfishing, rising sea levels, human disturbance, and predation including off-leash dogs have had devastating effects on kororā colonies.”
The Project provides ongoing protection and monitoring of affected colonies in the area. WWF-New Zealand’s Community Conservation Fund has enabled the project to build nesting for the little penguins, too.
Dedicated volunteers rescue and rehabilitate the penguins, improve their habitat through revegetation and pest control, and provide more nesting options around Mauao/Mount Maunganui and Moturiki/Leisure Island.
The WWF-New Zealand Community Conservation Fund supports local communities to run projects that conserve and restore Aotearoa’s natural environment, while also educating New Zealanders about its importance.