Penguins removed from Wellington sushi store after causing trouble in the CBD

Tuesday, 16 July 2019

Penguins visiting Wellington have been returned to the sea after causing traffic concerns and being chased by cops.

Two waddling penguins were refusing to leave a sushi store yesterday after a night on the town on Saturday.

A Department of Conservation (DOC) spokeswoman said they've now been moved to nesting boxes near the harbour.

'They seemed to like it and they were cooing which is a good sign.'

* Little blue penguins settle at Lyall Bay - beside dog-friendly beach

* The little penguin, our wee blue**

Wellington District Police Constable John Zhu with the little blue penguin.

But on Tuesday morning they were at large again, potentially out looking for a snack.

'One of the DOC rangers checked earlier this morning and their nest box was empty.

'But that's what we'd expect because they go out to feed.'

Whether they'd return to the sushi store or back to their nesting boxes was unknown, she said.

The penguins chose to hang out at a local sushi store outside the Wellington Railway Station.

If anyone saw penguins on the land side of Waterloo Quay they should call the DOC hotline, she said.

A penguin was first seen waddling to the CBD on Saturday night and returned later with a mate.

On Monday, DOC refused to provide their exact location to keep them safe.

But it was soon revealed by their accommodation of choice is the Sushi Bi cart outside the station.

A little blue penguin rescued from Wellington Central on Saturday night returned later with a companion. (File photo)

The birds were spotted crossing busy traffic lanes between the harbour and the station to the sushi bar.

Even the Wellington District Police were called about the visiting penguins.

'A couple of penguins have been released following temporary detainment by Wellington Police,' the Wellington District Police said on their Facebook page.

'The waddling vagrants were removed from their sushi stand refuge earlier today by Constable John Zhu.

'Unsurprisingly, this was not the first report Police had received about the fishy birds.'

Police received the first call at about 8.40pm on Saturday night of a penguin on the road in Featherston St.

'Police responded and with some help from members of the public released the penguin, described as 'little and blue', back into the sea.'

But on Monday at about 6.35am, police received another report of the penguin, this time with a companion, near Wellington Railway Station.

DOC were called again to try and remove them from the sushi store on Monday night.

Little blue penguins are reasonably common in Wellington Harbour – there are estimated to be about 600 pairs nesting on Matiu Somes Island.

Their conservation status is considered to be 'at risk' to 'declining'.