Glowing Sky supports Trust

Glowing Sky Clothing Limited has teamed up with the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust to produce an exclusive, hand printed “penguin” designed T-shirt. Proceeds from the T-shirt sales will help fund important Trust conservation activity and ensure the future survival of yellow-eyed penguins.

Left to right: Isabella Magee two years, Alex Clarkson 3 years, and Erica Wilden 3 years

Glowing Sky Clothing Limited, a family run company originating on Stewart Island, is making the 100% genuine hand-printed New Zealand T-shirts for adults and kids in a variety of colours and sizes. The T-shirts are available via the Glowing Sky website, with a generous contribution from each T-shirt going to the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust.

Founder and owner of Glowing Sky Clothing Limited, Dil Bellworthy, is pleased to be able to support the Trust. “As Stewart Islanders we have been aware of the fine work the Trust has been doing on Rakiura for many years, and are thrilled to be able to help support the cause.”

Sue Murray, General Manager of the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust, said Glowing Sky have a long standing relationship with the Trust, and the idea originally started with T-shirts being designed for the 20th Anniversary Conference held by the Trust in 2007. “These T-shirts will make great gifts for Christmas or any other special occasion and can be purchased by anyone in New Zealand or overseas,” she said. “Glowing Sky can arrange delivery to just about any destination in the world, and what a wonderful way to support conservation activity for endangered yellow-eyed penguins.”

Funds raised by the sale of these special T-shirts will go toward conservation activity that include the production and planting of approximately 10,000 native trees and shrubs each year; restoring coastal habitats; fencing and purchasing land or negotiating protective status for breeding habitats; and maintenance of the habitats.

People are being encouraged to support the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust and purchase these T- shirts from Glowing Sky Clothing Ltd by visiting www.glowingsky.com

Anyone interested in getting involved with the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust can visit www.yellow-eyedpenguin.org.nz or phone 03 479 0011.

Media inquiries: Merrin Bath 027 202 0903

YEPT wins BirdLife Award

The Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust has been awarded a prestigious BirdLife International Conservation Achievement Award for its innovative conservation work. The Trust is the first New Zealand conservation organisation to receive this award.

Her Imperial Highness, Princess Takamado of Japan, Honorary President to BirdLife International, presented the award to the Trust on September 27 during BirdLife International’s World Conference in Buenos Aires. Read the rest of this entry »

Long Point update

After many months of long protracted negotiations, the Long Pont project has finally taken off with a hiss and a roar. Firstly, the Clutha District Council granted us the necessary resource consent in very quick time.

Then we’ve had a succession of distinguished visitors to the reserve since it was opened by the Minister of Conservation, Steve Chadwick, back in November. In March some of the Department of Conservation’s senior management team based in Dunedin were given a tour. These included Coastal Otago Area staff Robin Thomas (Area Manager), David Mules (Programme Manager Community Relations) and David Agnew (Programme Manager Biodiversity Assets) and Otago Conservancy’s Marian van de Goes (Community Relations Manager). Then in April the Dunedin branch of the Forest and Bird committee also inspected the reserve. Prof Alan Mark when walking the headland had to admit that the “scenery wasn’t too bad”. In spite of a lack of his beloved tussock he thought that the Dunedin Forest and Bird Branch had made a great investment by financially supporting the purchase. Read the rest of this entry »

YEPT and World Environmental Day

A group of dedicated volunteers joined the YEPT staff to help us celebrate World Environmental Day, as well as Arbour Day. We were happy to see them, as the weather prediction was not very exciting and we never know how many people will turn up to a public planting day.

A group of our ‘Wednesday nursery volunteers’, many of whom were with us the day before, turned out with smiles on their faces and spades in their hands.  Read the rest of this entry »

Summary of membership survey results

We love yellow-eyed penguins!

Feedback from the recently completed membership survey shows that members support the trust because, “you love yellow-eyed penguins” and genuinely want to save them from extinction and contribute to their survival. Thank you for your valued support!

A big thank you to members who recently completed the membership survey. The Trust received nearly 700 completed surveys, which was far more than expected! The survey was sent out to a sample of the membership base including overseas members. The information received has given the Trust an opportunity to gain a better understanding of who you are, why you belong to the Trust, how long you have been members and how you like to receive information from the Trust, along with answers to a number of other questions. Read the rest of this entry »

2007/08 season on Stewart Is

The fifth and final season of fieldwork for the five-year study on Stewart Island has just been completed. In contrast to Year 4, which resulted in 0% breeding success in the monitored area on Stewart Island (the Anglem coast), and lower breeding success on the monitored offshore islands than in previous years, this season was much better. Six chicks fledged from the Anglem coast and 56 and 27 chicks respectively from Whenua Hou/Codfish Island and the Bravo islands, our two monitored offshore island sites. Breeding success was 19% for the Anglem coast, still much lower than the expected average of around 60% (but better than 0%!), while that for Whenua Hou/Codfish Island and the Bravo islands was 76% and 69% respectively. This is the best season of all during this study for these island groups, perhaps influenced by the spectacularly fine summer and La Nina weather patterns experienced this season. Read the rest of this entry »

Sir Edmund Hillary

It was with sadness we learnt of Sir Edmund’s passing (11.01.08). He was a true New Zealand icon, although he himself did not like that designation.

The Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust has very fond memories of our association with him through our own iconic species – the yellow-eyed penguin. Founding trustees remember his and Lady June Hillary’s visit to Dunedin when the new $5 note was first launched, followed by a luncheon and a visit to a local penguin beach. We all sat on a rather large log and soaked up the conversation and vista on a lovely afternoon. Read the rest of this entry »