Small but Mighty: Little Penguins and The People Saving Them (with NZPI)

“If you want to know how many kororā live in New Zealand, go find them.”

The world’s smallest penguin species could be vanishing right before our eyes - without enough data to confirm their suspected decline.

Kororā (little penguins) are thought to be in trouble throughout Aotearoa, yet we lack the nationwide monitoring to prove it.

In this episode of the People Helping Nature Podcast, Hiltrun Ratz and Melissa McLuskie from the New Zealand Penguin Initiative (NZPI) reveal how they're uniting community groups all over NZ to fill critical knowledge gaps about this species. Through standardised monitoring and collaborative efforts, NZPI is building the evidence needed for meaningful protection.

"We need to avoid being the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff, but put the fence up at the top before it gets too bad and they fade away," warns Hiltrun.

The good news? Kororā can thrive alongside humans if they’re given the space and protection they need. By respecting their habitat and supporting local groups, we can help ensure future generations will be able to say, "we have penguins in our backyard."

Here are some of the key topics we discussed:

• Why kororā are classified as "at-risk declining" despite limited data.
• Major threats including habitat loss, predation, and human disturbance.
• How climate change is affecting kororā populations.
• The importance of monitoring on land and at sea.
• Why kororā are an indicator species for our coastal regions.
• How NZPI is coordinating nationwide monitoring and conservation efforts to fill the data gaps.
• Simple actions anyone can take to protect kororā in their local area.
• What to do if you encounter an injured or dead penguin.
• And much more…

👩About Hiltrun:

Hiltrun has dedicated more than three decades to penguin conservation in NZ. She joined NZPI as a penguin scientist in 2021, supporting community groups nationwide to understand and reduce threats to kororā.

Her journey began in 1991 with a PhD on introduced predators of yellow-eyed penguins, followed by almost 20 years at Penguin Place on the Otago Peninsula. After leaving in 2013, she contributed to Penguin Rescue's work at Moeraki, before becoming the scientist for Blue Penguins Pukekura at Taiaroa Head (2016-2021), where she established microchipping and monitoring programmes for their little penguin population.

👩About Melissa:

Melissa joined the NZPI team in 2023 after relocating to the West Coast. With a background in zookeeping, wildlife veterinary nursing and a Bachelor of Science, she previously worked with Western Bay Wildlife Trust, advocating for kororā protection by undertaking community engagement, rescue, rehabilitation, scientific research and habitat restoration.

Melissa is dedicated to reducing human-wildlife conflict, improving habitat, and hopes to inspire communities to look after their local penguin colonies to ensure they remain an important part of terrestrial and marine ecosystems for future generations.

🔗Learn more:

• NZPI’s website: www.nzpi.nz
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/NZpenguins
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/nzpenguins

🎙️Learn more about the podcast at www.conservationamplified.org