Blue Penguins Pukekura

Blue Penguins Pukekura Discover Kororā, the world's smallest penguin, in their natural habitat at Takiharuru, Pukekura.

Takiharuru is the whenua of Turūnaka Korako Karetai, who was the heir of Pukekura Ariki, Karetai.

While doing restoration work at Takiharuru (Pilots Beach), our team-member Elliot found a New Zealand Breweries b**r bot...
21/09/2026

While doing restoration work at Takiharuru (Pilots Beach), our team-member Elliot found a New Zealand Breweries b**r bottle from 1939. This bottle may be an artifact from the camp soldiers occupied at Takiharuru.

Pukekura (Taiaroa Head) has a rich history. In modern times, it is known to be the only mainland toroa (Royal albatross) breeding colony in the world, and home to the largest colony of kororā (blue penguins) in Ōtepoti (Dunedin). However, our tīpuna (grandparents) may remember the headland better as Fort Taiaroa.

Swipe to learn more…

Photos: Hocken Collections; De Maus Gallery - Port Chalmers Museum; Sian Mair; and Alexander Turnbull Library.

We hope you all had a happy Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week)! Every year between the 14th and 20th of Hepete...
20/09/2026

We hope you all had a happy Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week)!

Every year between the 14th and 20th of Hepetema (September), Te Wiki o te Reo Māori is celebrated. This commemorates Te Petihana Reo Māori (The Māori Language Petition) urging te reo to be taught in schools, that was presented to Parliament on the 14th of Hepetema 1972, containing over 30,000 signatures.

To encourage you along on your reo journey, here are some key phrases:
Kia ora - Hello
Mōrena - Good morning
Kia pai te rā - Have a good day
Kei te pēhea koe - How are you
Kei te pai - I am fine
Kei te ora - I am well
Ngā mihi - Thank you
Ko ___ tōku ingoa - My name is ___
Ko wai tō ingoa - What's your name
He ___ māku - Can I have... (E.g. He kawhe māku - Can I have a coffee)
Haere rā - Goodbye
Ngā whakawhetai mō tēnei rā - Gratefulness for today (E.g. For coming on a Blue Penguins Pukekura tour and seeing kororā)

Whakataukī (Māori proverb) to take away:
Whāia te waewae o Uenuku kia ora ai te tangata - Follow the path of learning to live a good life.

Illustration: Jess

08/09/2026

We are answering Ōamaru Penguins call. We heard our penguin pals are waddling and we are joining in. (Safety in numbers).

Vote kororā (blue penguins) in Forest & Bird’s Bird of the Year competition: https://www.birdoftheyear.org.nz/ .
Then, show us your waddle!

Voting closes on the 20th of September.
Our kororā are too busy being adorable; fishing; supporting their whānau (families); and warding off terrestrial mammalian and marine predators to thank you, so we’ll do so - ngā mihi (thank you) for voting kororā.

Media: Aliguna and Sian Mair.

03/09/2026

Inside the Private World of Pūrerehua:

Recently our team-members Elliot and Sian had the pleasure of hosting local entomologist Luca and his mum Gina at Blue Penguins Pukekura. They joined Elliot and Sian for a pūrerehua (moth) survey after the kororā (blue penguin) tour. Elliot, our moth survey lead, uses Ahi Pepe MothNet traps, of which live traps the moths, so they can be safely released afterwards.

In the insect order Lepidoptera, butterflies definitely garner more attention and awe than moths. But moths deserve their moment. Aotearoa New Zealand is home to about 2,000 species of moths, many of which can only be found here.
While their life span is brief (adults live for only up to two weeks), they do a lot of good. Moths are an important indicator of healthy ecosystems, and play a key role in nutrient and carbon cycling, as the caterpillars break apart coarse organic matter, enriching soils. They are also valuable pollinators in our ecosystems, because they disperse plant seeds by feeding on the nectar or pollen of flowers.

Since becoming interested in moths at the age of four, Luca has become a specialist. He has over 20,000 observations on iNaturalist.org, covering 1,900 species. In early 2026, Luca was near a beech forest in Lewis Pass in Te Waipounamu (the South Island) and discovered a large moth with brilliant orange underwings in one of his traps. Could it be the phantom Pseudocoremia campbelli?

This striking endemic moth was first described by Alfred Philpott in 1925, and was then not seen for a century. Indeed it was Pseudocoremia campbelli, confirmed Robert H***e, one of Aotearoa’s leading entomologists. About the remarkable discovery, Luca told Bill Morris from New Zealand Geographic, “Somehow the name flashed through my brain when I saw it, but I didn’t really think it was a possibility.”

While moths are creatures some associate with being pests, they are under threat due to habitat loss, pesticides and light pollution. Why should this concern you? According to Luca, “Everyone should be aware of how amazing moths are, so they can protect them."

Photos: Sian Mair and Gina Rocco.

31/08/2026

One of the joys for our team-member Sian of working at Takiharuru (Pilots Beach) is the frequency in which pakake (New Zealand sea lions) visit.
Try as our benevolent overlord Lyndon might, Sian's favourite animal is still pakake. With kororā (blue penguins) a close second, naturally.

Contrary to popular belief, pakake are not a major threat to penguins. They cannot digest feathers, and therefore do not target birds, as they make for an unpleasant meal. Pakake are adept hunters and studies have consistently found that their preferred prey is ngohi (fish) and wheke (squid and octopus).

One pakake that frequently visits Takiharuru is a young bull named Dugald. Sian first met him when he was three-months-old and she was volunteering for the Department of Conservation and the New Zealand Sea Lion Trust to tag him. She has since had the privilege of watching him and other pups grow up.
Dugald is a placid bull and highly tolerant of our team weed-whacking in the reserve. Although kororā are the stars of the show, Dugald has frequently delighted our visitors with his presence.

Photos: Dugald by Sian Mair and Janet Ledingham. Taken from 10 meters away and zoomed in on.

We are ecstatic to be the No. 1 Dunedin Tour on Tripadvisor! Ngā mihi nui (thank you) to all of our visitors who have wr...
30/08/2026

We are ecstatic to be the No. 1 Dunedin Tour on Tripadvisor!
Ngā mihi nui (thank you) to all of our visitors who have written reviews. Our team value hearing about your experiences and never tire of seeing your adorable kororā (blue penguin) photos.

Our team are dedicated to protecting our kororā colony, so they can thrive. For years, our conservation mahi (work) at Takiharuru (Pilots Beach) has included removing pest plant species, such as gorse, lupin and hemlock, to create a favourable habitat; planting native flora to reforest Takiharuru; controlling mammalian predators via trapping; managing human traffic to reduce stressors for our vulnerable wildlife; uplifting injured adults; and supplementary feeding malnourished chicks.

As a charity (composed of the Korako Karetai Trust and the Otago Peninsula Trust) we do not receive governmental funding. All of the funding that supports our conservation mahi comes from our tours.

We look forward to sharing the taonga (treasures) of Takiharuru with you in the future!

(BPP team pictured: Vanessa, Rene, Danni, Sian, Lyndon, Jono and Alister. Missing: Elliot and Leon).

17/08/2026

Come and embrace the Monday blues with us at Blue Penguins Pukekura!

There’s no tonic quite like viewing the world’s smallest penguins, kororā (blue penguins), to alleviate the Monday blues.

By paying to see these adorable birds, you are supporting their population growth, by contributing to our conservation mahi (work).

Happiness is only a click away: https://www.bluepenguins.co.nz/book-your-tour/

Video: Sian Mair.

Takiharuru (Pilots Beach) is home to a variety of creatures, not just kororā (blue penguins). Living harmoniously alongs...
04/08/2026

Takiharuru (Pilots Beach) is home to a variety of creatures, not just kororā (blue penguins). Living harmoniously alongside our kororā are other seabirds, including tītī (sooty shearwaters); pakake (New Zealand sea lions); kekeno (New Zealand fur seals); and a variety of invertebrates, including at least two endemic species of skink!

In Aotearoa (New Zealand), we have two groups of mokomoko (lizards): skinks and geckos. Skinks, opposed to geckos, are more slender and shiny, and are more likely to be found on the ground (instead of scaling trees or cliffs).
Aotearoa has about 78 species of skink. Our skinks have several unique traits, such as they are viviparous (they give birth to live young). Tussock skinks (formerly southern grass skinks) are thriving at Takiharuru and herbfield skinks (formerly cryptic skinks) are occasionally seen. Pukekura (Taiaroa Head) would have once hosted Otago green skinks and possibly also kōrero geckos and jewelled geckos.

At Takiharuru, we have an ongoing invertebrate monitoring program, where our team are monitoring tussock skinks using artificial cover objects (ACOs) made from sections of Onduline roofing scattered all around Takiharuru. These ACOs soak up the sun and provide skinks warm sheltered hiding spots during the day. By regularly checking these ACOs, we can develop an understanding of where skinks are congregating at Takiharuru, their interactions with plants, and create a baseline for future years to compare to, giving us insights into population dynamics and allowing us to identify any promising or worrying trends.

This will allow us to better plan to protect our scaly friends, including potential future steps such as designated rock gardens for skinks to thrive in.

Photos: Elliot Weir and Sian Mair. Taken from a safe distance and zoomed in on.

Did you know that Aotearoa (New Zealand) has over 2,000 endemic pūrerehua (moth) species and about seventeen butterfly s...
04/08/2026

Did you know that Aotearoa (New Zealand) has over 2,000 endemic pūrerehua (moth) species and about seventeen butterfly species?

At Takiharuru (Pilots Beach), we've been deploying ultraviolet (UV) light traps around our reserve to attract moths, which fall into netting underneath the light, allowing them to be counted and identified (using guides or consulting iNaturalist) before being safely released back into the reserve.

These traps were lent by Ahi Pepe MothNet, a citizen science project based in Ōtākou (Otago), that works with local schools and community groups and is supported by Manaaki Whenua (Landcare Research); Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu; Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka (University of Otago); Tūhura Otago Museum; and more.

Moths are an important indicator species of a healthy taiao (environment) and pūnaha hauropi (ecosystems), as their presence often indicates that the habitat is favourable and rich in other critters. They are essential in nutrient and carbon cycling, as the caterpillars break apart coarse organic matter, enriching soils. They are also important pollinators in our ecosystems, because they feed on the nectar or pollen of flowers and help seed production of plants. Lastly, they respond and adapt quickly to climate shifts, pollution, and disturbances.

During Autumn (March to May), our team left four traps out for three hours after dusk and counted the moths captured in each one. They then repeated this across four different nights. This was to create a baseline that they can compare to next Autumn, and in future years, to help identify any positive or negative trends.

Stay tuned for how many species we have at Takiharuru!

Photos: Elliot Weir.

Avian influenza has now been identified in Aotearoa (New Zealand), so let's equip ourselves with knowledge about this vi...
26/07/2026

Avian influenza has now been identified in Aotearoa (New Zealand), so let's equip ourselves with knowledge about this viral disease.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus subtype H5N1 is a highly infectious viral disease, of which birds are the primary hosts. Incursions occur due to the return of migratory birds, such as hākoakoa (Subantarctic skua), a top avian predator, who typically spend the summer breeding season on the Subantarctic Islands and Rēkohu (Chatham Islands), before migrating north to spend the winter at sea.

The most likely routes of H5N1 infection are saliva, nasal secretions, and faecal-oral transmission. Since the goose/Guangdong-lineage of H5N1 was catapulted onto the global health stage in 1996, H5N1 has killed wild birds and poultry, and mammals, including dairy cattle, cats, Southern elephant seals and sea lions.

The bird species most susceptible to H5N1 are ducks, swans and geese (Anseriformes) and gulls, terns and shorebirds (Charadriiformes). Since its outbreak, penguins (Spheniscidae) have also been affected, including King penguins, Adélie penguins, Gentoo penguins, African penguins and Humboldt penguins.
Clinical signs of H5N1 infection in penguins includes eye mucus discharge, cloudy eyes, apparent blindness, lethargy, an inability to stand, panting, head or whole-body tremors, head tilt, dorsal neck flexion (bending the head forward), oscillations of the eyes, and seizures.

H5N1 infecting humans is rare. Most confirmed cases were linked to people who had intimate contact with infected birds.

Can you expect any changes with Blue Penguins Pukekura tours?

At this time as there have been no confirmed cases of H5N1 within kororā (blue penguins) and no confirmed cases in Ōtākou (Otago), we are operating as per normal with our dusk penguin tours, which are conducted primarily outside on a specialised platform.

What can you do to help?

- Stay on designated boardwalks and pathways when viewing wildlife.
- Do not touch any deceased birds or seals.
- Ensure your dogs are on leashes in potentially infected areas, so they cannot interact with deceased wildlife.
- If you find any deceased wildlife, contact the Ministry for Primary Industries - Biosecurity New Zealand's Exotic Pest and Disease on 0800 80 99 66; the Department of Conservation on 0800 362 468; and the Ministry for Health on 0800 400 569.

Photos: Oscar Thomas and Sian Mair.

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1240 Harington Point Road
Dunedin
9077

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+64278400413

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