Dune Planting at Okia

On the morning of 6th June, three Trustees were joined by seventeen volunteers to plant out another area of the fore-dunes at Okia. It was easy planting, partly because the ground had been prepared by staff, but also because we were digging into sand, and as well many of the plants were flax (Phormium tenax) and poroporo (Solanum aviculare) which required only a spade cleft rather than a square hole.

About 500 plants were swiftly put into the ground in time to return at lunchtime avoiding the rain. Plants were
placed together tightly to avoid sand blow and allow for some plant loss in the difficult sand environment.

Lala Frazer

YEP Annual Symposium

The Yellow-eyed Penguin Consultative Group is to hold its annual Symposium on:

Saturday the 7 August 2010 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.

The meeting will be held at:

Seminar Room
Ground Floor
University College
Union Street East
Dunedin

During the morning there will be time for all groups who wish, to have an opportunity to report on what they have done for yellow-eyed penguins during the past year.  Please indicate on the enclosed form if your group wants to report and who will be speaking.   We would also appreciate knowing the names of your group who will be attending.

Read the rest of this entry »

Community Conservation Day

Sunday 6 June at Okia Reserve (Victory Beach), Otago Peninsula

Meet at Dick Road carpark at 10:30am, or meet at Bayfield inlet carpark 10:00am to  carpool (please advise if this is your intention)

Bring spade, lunch and drink, warm clothing, wet weather gear

Oamaru Penguin Symposium

The 7th Oamaru Penguin Symposium will be held on the 24th and 25th June 2010 at the usual venue of the Brydone Hotel in Oamaru.  Further details will be circulated via the mailing list and at http://oamaru.penguin.net.nz when available.  In the meantime, pencil those dates into your calendars and start thinking about the titles of your presentations.

The symposium will again be convened by Philippa Agnew. She can be contacted via e-mail by clicking here.

Penguins welcome Pacific Blue

To celebrate Pacific Blue’s launch of the new Trans Tasman flights between Dunedin and Brisbane a Yellow-Eyed Penguin party will take place at Dunedin International Airport.

Dunedinites have the chance to win two twin tickets to Brisbane if they turn up dressed as penguins to welcome the flight.

Guests on the flight will be wearing yellow-eyed penguin masks (pictured right), specially designed by Advertising and Art, Dunedin. Read the rest of this entry »

A great day at Otapahi Reserve

We wanted to show you a few photos of a great planting day held at one of the Trust’s Reserves on the Otago Peninsula on the 26th August. We had a variety of people helping us that day…6 members of the Wednesday Nursery volunteers, 3 visiting Americans from the University of Otago Botany Department, 3 employees from Mercure Hotel Dunedin, 1 research student from the Zoology department, and 3 staff members. Read the rest of this entry »

Community Workday: 9 August

Thanks to all those that came to help – couldn’t have been a more beautiful day for it! Here are a few photos of the day!

• Where: Tavora Reserve, East Otago. Meet at the old Wilson’s Distillery carpark, North Dunedin.
• Directions: From Dunedin: Drive north through Waikouaiti on SH1 and on 7km to Goodwood Corner. Turn right onto Goodwood Road, and after 5km turn right into Bobby’s Head Road. The car park is directly ahead.

  From Palmerston: Take Goodwood Road for approx 7km and turn left into Bobby’s Head Road.

• When: Sunday 9th August 2009. Meet at Wilson’s Distillery carpark 9:15am to car pool, or 10am at Tavora Reserve carpark

Bring spades, warm clothes, food and drink. for those interested.

Weather permitting, there will be time to complete the coastal walk of the reserve.

World Environment Day 2009

Over 50 members of the public including students and staff from local corporate organisations, supporters and volunteers of the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust celebrated World Environment Day and Arbor Day by planting 1300 native trees and shrubs. The planting took place at Okia, a 230 hectare reserve jointly owned by the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust and the Dunedin City Council.

The tree planting is a contribution to returning the native bio-diversity to this special part of Dunedin City, home to 20 pairs of yellow-eyed penguins breeding in the reserve. Read the rest of this entry »

Annual Yellow-eyed Penguin Symposium

The Yellow-eyed penguin Consultative Group supported by the Trust and the Department of Conservation is holding its annual symposium on Saturday 1st August 2009 at ground floor meeting room at University College (same place as last year).

The format will be the same as previous years with report backs during the morning. The afternoon session’s topic is still to be confirmed.

For further information and registrations, contact the Trust Office or Bruce McKinlay, Secretary of the Yellow-eyed Penguin Consultative Group. You can also download the registration form here.

Cadbury Chocolate Carnival Go Wild!

Join the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust on an exclusive tour to a private reserve (rarely open to the public). View yellow-eyed penguins in their natural habitat, from a stunning location and chocolate to share! Learn about our conservation efforts and what the future holds for this endangered species. Accompanied by Trust representatives. Come and visit our stand at the Portobello Farmer’s Markets.

Maximum 40 people, bookings essential. Not suitable for young children or anyone unable to walk on hilly terrain. Suitable outdoor footwear and wet weather gear recommended. Binoculars also recommended – Trust will have some available to share.

• When: Sunday 12th July 2009 at 3pm
• Entry: $10 adult (1 child free) $2 each extra child (Child 5 – 12 yrs)
• Reservations Essential. Subject to availability Ph: (03) 479 0011

For more information about the Cadbury Chocolate Carnival Week 11-17 July 2009, visit www.chocolatecarnival.co.nz