DOC advice to conservation Minister on Waiheke marina penguins 'not adequate'

Friday, 8 April 2022

It’s a year since Kennedy Point marina construction started and the Protect Pūtiki group was formed. (First published March 9, 2022)

Conservation Minister Kiri Allan has criticised the Department of Conservation (DOC) for giving her advice that was not “fulsome or adequate” about penguins at Auckland’s Pūtiki Bay.

The kororā which live in the rock breakwater in the Kennedy Point Marina construction zone have been back in the spotlight after DOC granted authority under the Wildlife Act for the birds to be captured and moved during building work.

Activists who regularly conduct wildlife observations at the bay were surprised to hear Allan say on Tuesday that there were no kororā burrows at the site.

Green MP Chloe Swarbrick holds up photos of kororā at Pūtiki Bay during parliamentary questions.

Hours later, live video from the site showed little blue penguins swimming in the ocean, prompting Allan to quiz DOC and “express her dissatisfaction” the context was not adequately explained.

* Diggers move penguin habitat at Kennedy Point Marina site on Waiheke

* Penguins at Waiheke marina site reveal 'glaring hole' in Wildlife Act, Greens say

DOC operations director Andrew Baucke confirmed the Minister had been advised there were no penguin burrows, when “what should have been provided was there were no active burrows within the work site”.

An active burrow is “a burrow containing, or suspected to contain, a nesting bird, eggs or chicks or moulting bird”.

There were no breeding or moulting kororā in the construction zone, Baucke said, meaning the birds would be less likely to be in their nests during the day.

Kororā recuperate at Native Bird Rescue on Waiheke Island.

“They will be out fishing and feeding and will return at night, which is what is being demonstrated in the video.”

The advice came to light during Auckland Central MP Chloe Swarbrick’s Parliamentary questions to the Minister.

Waiheke Island falls within the Green MP’s constituency and she has been a vocal supporter of Protect Pūtiki, the group of environmentalists, locals and mana whenua opposing the marina.

The fudged advice led Allan to instruct DOC to keep a closer eye on construction work.

Baucke confirmed DOC staff would be present on site for the remainder of the construction work on the rock wall.

On Friday, Allan told Stuff that DOC had been “made aware that the information I was provided should have included more specific information about the behaviour of the kororā”.

“I have expressed very clearly my expectation as the Minister of Conservation that the department take an active role and be physically present to monitor the works.”

Kennedy Point Marina director Kitt Littlejohn said no kororā had been found during construction work.

A survey by ecologists and a dog before work started indicated there were no penguins in the area, he said.

Wharf piling works would take place over the next six weeks, and the rocks that had been removed from the wall would then be replaced, he said.

Karen Saunders from Waiheke’s Native Bird Rescue said even if penguins weren’t harmed by the work itself, the stress of losing their homes would be huge.

Kororā lived in the same burrow year-round and “always want to go back home”, she said.

Stress compromised birds’ immune systems, she said, making them susceptible to respiratory diseases.

“They’re amazing little fighters, but they’re not going to survive against all this.”