YEPT Reserves

Irahuka / Long Point, The Catlins

Purchased in 2009 by equal partners Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust and the Minister of Conservation’s Nature Heritage Fund, the area contained more than 48 pairs of breeding hoiho, representing more than 10% of the entire mainland New Zealand population of hoiho (estimated to be about 486 pairs in 2009).

Irahuka is on a stunning stretch of Otago coastline. The area is complex but, together with existing Department of Conservation reserves, it protects a 12 km stretch of coastline and marginal strips. As well as being a prime penguin nesting habitat, this coastal jewel has significant natural values. It also supports New Zealand fur seals, New Zealand sea lions, numerous seabird species, rare coastal plant communities, small remnants of native forest, and an archaeological site. It is intended to manage this to encourage expansion of a number of sea birds, not just hoiho.

Since the reserve has been purchased, the Trust has fenced off parts of the reserve, created car parks and walking tracks, and installed signage. There is a regular predator control programme provided by Forest and Bird South Otago Branch. Annual monitoring of hoiho breeding success is undertaken by the Trust and volunteers. There is a remnant titi population at the tip of Long Point, and Forest and Bird Dunedin Branch will monitor this as part of their “Bring Back the Seabirds” Project.

In 2020 the Trust opened its own field base for staff and researchers to use while working in the area. See aerial footage of the base filmed by Henry Eden-Mann below.

This reserve is open to the public. Please note: Dogs are forbidden from entering the reserve at all times.

Tavora Reserve, East Otago

Tavora Reserve, near Palmerston, was the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust’s second reserve, purchased in 1993. It includes a prominent headland called Bobby’s Head. Tavora (named after the ancient Maori name for the yellow-eyed penguin) had the dubious distinction of being one of the most modified hoiho habitats on the Otago coast. Intensive farming practices over the decades had destroyed most of the natural vegetation.

Since its inception, the Trust has put a great deal of effort into improving and enhancing the breeding habitat for hoiho. Some of the early plantings at the south beach in 1994-96 were carried out by staff from Mainland Cheese, the Trust’s original and founding sponsor. To this day they are known as the Mainland plantings. The estimated minimum total of hoiho nests varies between 1 – 3 after a severe predation episode and a landslide in the late 1990s that killed several hoiho.

Okia Reserve, Otago Peninsula

The 231 hectare Okia Reserve on Otago Peninsula is the largest managed by the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust. It was jointly purchased with the Dunedin City Council in 1991. It is bounded by the 3.5 km long arc of Victory Beach on one side, and on the other by the Pyramids, Taiaroa Hill and the sandy Okia Flats with their relict dune fields.

Several firebreaks crossing the reserve are designed to stop the spread of fire, one of its major threats.

Hundreds of trees and shrubs have been planted each year to enhance hoiho nesting habitat and other areas of biodiversity value. Farmed for more than 100 years, the face of the Okia Flats is changing, with revegetation and natural regeneration combining to offer new opportunities for native species. Revegetation has been carried out at the northern end of Victory Beach, and on the Margaret Hazel and Mainland slopes adjacent to Taiaroa Bush. Pikao planting with associated coastal species was carried out mid-beach as part of the Dunedin City Council Dune Conservation programme.

Otapahi Reserve

Otapahi, purchased by the Trust in 1997 when it had 7 hoiho nests, is not open to the public. The reserve has seen hoiho nest numbers increase to a high of 32 (2008). However, following several events* numbers have reverted to the earlier number of 7 – 9 nests.

Revegetation work to improve the quality of the penguin nesting habitat has been undertaken since the purchase. Between 1998 and 2000, about 1,800 trees and shrubs were planted annually. These plantings were funded primarily by the Pacific Development and Conservation Trust (an organisation set up by the French Government in recompense for the Rainbow Warrior sinking in 1985) and the Department of Conservation Biodiversity Condition Fund, and the plants were grown in the Trust’s Nursery.

Omihi Reserve, Otago Peninsula

This small 3 hectare area is managed by the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust with assistance from the local tourism operator. Revegetation enclosures have been established on part of the reserve to keep stock out and for future nesting opportunities.

The reserve is closed to the public.

Otekiho Reserve, Otago Peninsula

This 5 hectare reserve is owned by the Dunedin City Council, protected under the Reserves Act 1977 and managed by the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust since 1991. Hoiho formerly bred in this reserve and currently the more common little penguins are breeding here as well as gulls and shags. New Zealand fur seals are often found hauled out along the rocky beach. Revegetation efforts were hindered by the extensive damage from rabbits, despite plant protection, but today regular rabbit control is resulting in new plantings surviving.

Many of the plantings are now undertaken by Monarch Wildlife Cruises to offset their carbon footprint. There is no public access to this reserve.