Western Bay Wildlife Trust

05/10/2026

Today marks the 15 year anniversary of the MV Rena oil spill

Western Bay Wildlife Trust was formed in the aftermath, and we're still going strong today, actively helping our local wildlife and native habitats

We wish to acknowledge all the incredible efforts that took place back in 2011 and in the years that followed. Thank you to everyone involved!

Note: the photos of kororā and rehab facilities were taken with permission from the appropriate authorities.

01/10/2026

There's a video currently going viral in a local community noticeboard of a person patting a distressed kororā in the beach.

We want to make it clear that it's not acceptable to touch a kororā unless done by a trained person with a permit. It's also illegal under the Wildlife Act.

Little pengins out during the daytime are in distress and in need of rescue if found on land.

Not only does touching them stress them out, but it also can affect their waterproofing and lead to death.

At the moment, there is also risk of HPAI bird flu which can kill humans that come into contact with affected wildlife.

If you find a penguin out in the open during the daytime, it needs help. Please call us on 0800 SICK PENGUIN, we can collect it, assess its health and take the appropriate next steps under our permit.

More info about what to do if you find a sick or injured penguin can be found here: https://www.westernbaywildlife.nz/site_files/22431/upload_files/WBWT%20Penguin%20Rescue%20Flyer.pdf?dl=1

25/09/2026

Join our friends at Maketu Ongatoro Wetland Society for a fun morning at Pukehina Dotterel Point Reserve to learn about shorebirds, dune restoration, and enjoy a sweet treat 🍩

Details are in the event link below 💛🐣

Send a message to learn more

24/09/2026

Thanks for voting kororā in Bird of the Year, you helped increase their placing from 16th last year to 15th this year, out of 74 birds! 🐧❤️ Great to see first time winner karure (Chatham Island black robin) take out the crown. Such a special wee bird fondly known as the 'goth fluffball'. In 1980 there were just five birds left in the world, one of them the only fertile female. After an amazing conservation effort there are now around 350 adults living on two pest-free nature reserve islands 🥰
Photo credit: for BOTY

19/09/2026

Last chance to vote for Bird of the Year! Thanks for supporting our kororā and friends 🥰 Voting closes today https://www.birdoftheyear.org.nz/

Send a message to learn more

18/09/2026

Happy Te Wiki o te Reo Māori! (Māori Language Week)

Kōwhiria te kororā - choose the little penguin

Whakanuia te Reo Māori - celebrate te Reo Māori

Kia toa te kororā - let the kororā triumph!

Elect korora for Bird of the Year 2026. Your vote counts.

Voting closes 5pm this Sunday. https://www.birdoftheyear.org.nz/

15/09/2026

Our friends at Kaharoa Kōkako Trust are hosting the Matuku Mingle soon in support of Love Bittern / Community Conservation Action Aotearoa.

The aim is to raise awareness locally in and around Rotorua Lakes to encourage people to take part in The Great Matuku-hūrepo Muster - a nationwide synchronised count where people listen for and record the distinctive booming call of male bittern.

Last year, a small group of people and a couple of recorders detected bittern near Lake Ōkāreka, and two young bittern were also sighted near Lake Rotoehu.

Imagine what we might discover with more people listening - check out their original posts to find out how to get involved 🪶

🌿 HELP SUPPORT OUR AMAZING NATIVE BITTERN! 🌿

Have you heard the deep “boom” of a matuku-hūrepo (Australasian bittern) around the Rotorua lakes and wetlands?

The last known flock in the Rotorua district was seen rising from raupō, but it is believed that bittern are still using wetlands and freshwater habitats around our lakes.

How many are still out there is unknown.

Matuku-hūrepo are just one step from extinction, with the national population thought to be fewer than 1,000 birds. With numbers this low every bittern counts.

We’re supporting Love Bittern / Community Conservation Action Aotearoa in raising awareness locally and encouraging people to take part in The Great Matuku-hūrepo Muster, a nationwide synchronised count where people listen for and record the distinctive booming call of male bittern.

Last year, a small group of people and a couple of recorders detected bittern near Lake Ōkāreka, and two young bittern were also sighted near Lake Rotoehu.

Imagine what we might discover with more people listening!

Matuku Mingle:
Saturday 10 October | 2–4pm�Boyes Beach�Postponement: Sunday 11 October

Come along for an informal afternoon to learn more about bittern, meet others interested in helping, and, weather permitting, enjoy a walk and talk through nearby restored wetlands. Training will also be available for those interested in taking part in the Muster.

☕ Bring a drink and a plate to share for afternoon tea.

🎧 The Great Matuku-hūrepo Muster:

The Muster is your chance to help find out where bittern are still living around our lakes and wetlands by listening for their booming calls and recording what you hear.

If you’re a local who would like to learn more or help with the count, please check out the event details and get in touch via the website link below. You don’t need to be a bittern expert, just a willingness to listen and help!

Every pair of ears could help with the discovery of another matuku-hūrepo. 💚

👉 Find out more about The Great Matuku-hūrepo Muster:

https://lovebittern.com/take-action/the-great-matuku-hurepo-muster/

Kaharoa Kōkako Trust

13/09/2026

Remember you can vote for 5 birds! Here's our preferred coalition partners from the local Seabirds & Shorebirds parties 🥰 https://www.birdoftheyear.org.nz/

11/09/2026

The most important election of the year is here! Kororā numbers are sadly in decline so please vote now and help us raise awareness of the challenges they face. Visit: birdoftheyear.org.nz to vote 🐧🥰

12/08/2026

Our friends at Space for Nature and Forest & Bird - Tauranga are holding this free event next Monday at Envirohub Bay of Plenty. It will be amazing to hear their thoughts on making Bay of Plenty predator-free. Register via the link in the below post.

Could the Bay of Plenty be Predator Free like Wellington with native birds in our back yards and Kiwi on the doorstep?

Space for Nature is thrilled to join with Forest & Bird - Tauranga in welcoming Celia Wade-Brown to speak on important conservation matters. As an MP for the Green Party and a former Mayor of Wellington, she has seen how Wellington has become predator free and will talk about Predator Free, local reserves, the Conservation Act, and her member's bill about National Cat Management.

Her talk will be followed by question time.

📅 Monday 17th August
⏰ 5:30-7:30pm
📍 Envirohub, 31B Glasgow Street Tauranga

This a free event, register here: https://events.humanitix.com/celia-wade-brown-on-conservation