About us
Who we are
The New Zealand Penguin Initiative (NZPI) is an independent not-for-profit penguin conservation organisation working to enhance and protect kororā/little penguin populations and their habitats across Aotearoa.
Our work
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Conservation
We support individuals, groups and organisations to protect their local kororā populations and their habitats, through providing expertise and resources. Enhancing collaboration is at the forefront of our work, through networking and knowledge sharing to drive united penguin conservations efforts— because we’re stronger when we work together!
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Science
We facilitate the Kororā National Monitoring Programme to aid understanding of distribution and breeding trends and dedicated research projects help fill critical knowledge gaps to and enhance penguin protection. Summarised breeding success data is available via secure login for all NZPI groups contributing to the national database and publicly available summaries are available to encourage policy makers to improve conservation management.
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Advocacy
Many people are simply unaware of the threat’s kororā are facing in today’s world. A large part of our role involves educating the public, local communities and stakeholders about actions they can take to protect penguins and their habitats. Our services and resources are freely available to help educate, raise awareness and guide better decision-making policies, to ultimately strengthen protection of kororā colonies throughout Aotearoa.
Our vision
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.
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.
Our values
Community
Support communities to achieve penguin conservation outcomes and foster strong connections through knowledge sharing.
Courage
To strive in the face of challenges and inspire others.
Commitment
Encourage long-term sustainability of conservation efforts and high standards of animal welfare.
Our team
Hiltrun came to New Zealand in 1991 to start a PhD on the Ecology and habitat use of introduced mammalian predators of Yellow-eyed penguins, a conservation focused thesis with the aim of reducing predation of penguin chicks. She started working part time for Penguin Place, a private conservation tourism venture on the Otago Peninsula in 1994 and full time after graduating in 1997. As the scientist, her job was to monitor the Yellow-eyed penguin breeding colonies, assist in the rehabilitation facility, train and inform tour guides about the penguins, as well as monitor a small Little penguin colony.
She left in 2013 and started to contribute to the work of Penguin Rescue at Moeraki, North Otago. Between 2016 and 2021, she worked as the scientist for Blue Penguins Pukekura, an ecotourism venture based at Taiaroa Head/Pukekura initially finding and micro-chipping Little penguins at Pilots Beach / Takiharuru and to enumerate and monitor the Little penguins there. In 2021 she joined the New Zealand Penguin Initiative as a penguin scientist to support and advise community groups interested in penguin conservation throughout New Zealand with the aim of understanding and ameliorating threats to the future of the species.
Hiltrun Ratz
PROGRAMME DIRECTOR
Melissa McLuskie
Melissa has had a passion for wildlife and conservation from a young age. She has a background in zookeeping, wildlife veterinary nursing and obtained her Bachelor of Science in 2016, which helped her gain an understanding of conservation practices and wildlife management.
She has had the privilege of working with and advocating for the protection of little penguin/kororā in the Bay of Plenty for several years with a focus on scientific research, rescue/rehabilitation, habitat restoration and community engagement events, before relocating to the West Coast in 2023 and becoming part of the NZPI team.
Melissa is dedicated to reducing human-wildlife conflict, improving wildlife habitats and hopes to inspire communities to look after their local penguin colonies to ensure they are around for future generations and continue to be an important part of terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
COMMUNITY PROGRAMME MANAGER
Our story
NZPI was founded in 2019 by the New Zealand T-Gear Charitable Trust.
The NZPI project is inspired by recognition of human impact on penguin populations and the need for a co-ordinated and collaborative approach towards a national monitoring network focused on research and advocacy to improve penguin conservation in the community.
NZPI is an affiliate of the Environmental Law Initiative. A legal charity who use the law to protect Aotearoa’s environment and biodiversity.
