Signs right for kororā

A project involving the whole of Wainui Beach School resulted in this new sign about the little blue penguin, at the Tatapouri boat ramp. From left are students Kyla-Rose Moleta and Zoë Kluiters (who did the main art work for the sign) and teacher Rozanna Grimmett. Picture by Liam Clayton

A survey, a book and a sign are the outcome of Wainui Beach School’s dedicated study on the kororā or little blue penguin.

When the school’s office manager, Margot Calcott discovered penguins nesting under her home on Tuahine Crescent, Wainui some years ago, her account of the discovery fascinated the school children.

“Margot’s story ignited the whole thing,” said teacher Jodie Saunders.

Attempts were made to move the nesting penguins to Māhia, but without success and they made their way back to Margot’s place.

The kororā is the world’s smallest penguin, measuring just over 25cm and weighing only 1kg. The species is said to be at risk with a declining population.

During May and June the birds come ashore to nest, venturing up to 1.5km from the sea to find their ideal nesting sites.

Ms Saunders also leads the Enviroschools programme which was introduced to the school in 2014, with a focus on “empowering akonga/students to care for our environment and operating in an environmentally sustainable way”.  She invited the whole school to participate in a study on the breed.

The students decided to start their research with a community survey to discover just how many penguins had been seen in the area and what sort of condition they were in. They learned Dive Tatapouri had some nesting penguins and that the Tatapouri team had provided safe nesting for the birds as part of their ecology tour.  The original sign about the penguins at Tatapouri had deteriorated over time so the students decided to provide new signage for the site.

Year 5 and 6 students were tasked with putting together the relevant information to go on the sign. Student Zoe Kluiters did the main artwork.

The substantial sign measures over two metres and is something Wainui Beach School principal Nolian Andrews is “super proud” of.

Funding for the project to the tune of $1000 was provided by the charitable trust Toimata Foundation and Earthwise. The foundation supports educational programmes, including Enviroschools, around the country.

Local graphic design artist Chris Williams from Design Weasel completed the job. The sign was then relocated to a new position at Tatapouri, on the tractor shed, and is sure to draw the attention of many visitors to come.

“One main motivator for the sign was awareness and protection,” said Ms Saunders. “From our survey we found out the little blue penguins are here and come here every year.  Many of the sightings, however, were of dead penguins. We are not sure what killed them but we do know that dogs, traffic and fishing nets can be a problem.”

A competition was organised for the older students to write about the school’s involvement in the project from start to finish.

Winning student Betsy Findlay then worked with writer Sheridan Gundry to finalise the story. Zoe Kluiters also contributed to the art work for the book, which it is hoped will be published this year.

“We will probably revisit our research on the little blue penguin once again, when the book comes out,” said Ms Saunders. “The kids are really into it.”

She spoke of the need to be vigilant in the care and protection of these unique birds, “being aware that we share the beach with these birds and making sure we do things like keep an eye on our dogs or keep them on leads, especially during the nesting and moulting season”.

Keeping vehicles off the dunes was also important, she said.

“These are all things we can do to help them.”