New Zealand hosts the world’s most diverse penguin population. Of the eighteen species globally, thirteen have been recorded in the New Zealand region, with nine species breeding there. This high concentration makes the country a significant location for conservation efforts. Three species breed on the mainland, making them accessible to residents and visitors.
New Zealand’s Resident Penguin Species
The three main species that call the New Zealand mainland home are the Little Blue Penguin (kororā), the Yellow-Eyed Penguin (hoiho), and the Fiordland Crested Penguin (tawaki). The kororā is the smallest, standing about 30 centimeters tall and weighing around one kilogram. These birds are characterized by their slate-blue plumage and are the most common penguin species found along the country’s coastlines.
The hoiho is instantly recognizable by the pale yellow band of feathers running from its eyes to the back of its head. This species is one of the world’s rarest penguins, and its Māori name, meaning “noise shouter,” reflects its loud vocalizations. They are taller than the kororā, with distinctive pink feet and striking yellow eyes.
The tawaki breeds primarily in the dense rainforests of the South Island’s rugged southwest. It is known for its prominent, bristly yellow eyebrows that extend into a crest.
Geographic Range and Coastal Habitats
The Little Blue Penguin (kororā) is widely distributed along the coastlines of the North, South, and Stewart Islands, as well as the Chatham Islands. They are primarily nocturnal on land, often nesting in burrows, rock crevices, or under coastal buildings near human settlements.
The Yellow-Eyed Penguin (hoiho) is concentrated along the south-eastern coastline of the South Island, particularly the Otago Peninsula, and extends to Stewart Island and the sub-Antarctic islands. The hoiho is a forest- or shrubland-nesting species, making it vulnerable to habitat loss from land conversion to pasture.
The Fiordland Crested Penguin (tawaki) is confined to the southwestern coastlines of the South Island, including Fiordland, Stewart Island, and associated offshore islands. The tawaki prefers inaccessible forested coastal areas, nesting in concealed spots like hollows under fallen trees, roots, or rock crevices. New Zealand’s sub-Antarctic islands, such as the Auckland and Campbell Islands, are also home to breeding populations of other species, including the Southern Rockhopper and Erect-crested Penguins.
Status and Protection Efforts
New Zealand’s penguins face a range of threats, leading to population decline. On land, introduced mammalian predators, such as stoats, ferrets, rats, dogs, and feral cats, pose a significant risk to eggs, chicks, and moulting adults. Dogs are a severe threat to the kororā, with their scent sometimes deterring the birds from their nesting routines.
At sea, the penguins are threatened by commercial fishing through accidental bycatch and entanglement in discarded fishing lines. Climate change also impacts their food sources, with warming sea temperatures potentially forcing prey species further south, affecting foraging success. Habitat loss, especially the clearing of forest and shrubland for the Yellow-Eyed Penguin, is another major factor.
The Department of Conservation (DOC) and numerous community groups are actively involved in protection efforts. These actions include establishing predator trapping programs in penguin habitats and creating reserves where access is controlled to mitigate human disturbance. Organizations like the NZ Penguin Initiative focus on research and community support, aiming to establish a national monitoring program for the kororā and advocate for better protection policies. Specific measures, such as installing specialized nesting boxes and constructing penguin protection fences along roads, are implemented to provide safe nesting sites and reduce road strike fatalities.