1 August 2025
File Ref: IRC-8795
Maddison Plumridge
[FYI request #31720 email]
Tēnā koe Maddison
Thank you for your request of 23 July 2025 to Te Kaunihera o Pōneke | Wellington City Council (the
Council) requesting information regarding penguins
. Your request has been considered under the
Local Government Of icial Information and Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA). Please find my response
below.
•
“Does council agree penguins exist on beaches in their area?
•
Does council agree penguins are adversely affected?
Yes, kororā (Little blue penguins) are present along much of Wellington’s coastline. Kororā are
vulnerable to a range of pressures including disturbance and predation by dogs, habitat loss, vehicle
strikes, human disturbance, and other coastal hazards. Please refer to Schedule 8 (key word search
penguin) of the District Plan (DP) for potential areas that penguins may be present in the Wel ington
region.
•
Have they got plan objectives concerning them? (biodiversity, fauna) or similar?
•
Have they got plan policies concerning them? (biodiversity, fauna) or similar?
•
Have they got plan rules concerning them? (biodiversity, fauna) or similar?
The Tātou ki Uta – Coastal Reserves Management Plan, which is currently out for consultation,
includes specific objectives and management approaches for kororā, particularly on pages 42–43.
This plan also identifies place-based actions for key sites such as Greta Point and Rangitatau
Reserve.
For projects affecting kororā (and other wildlife) we may need to do an impact assessment
(Assessment of Environmental Ef ects) if the activity triggers a rule requiring consent to do the
works. If we were to impact or relocate kororā as a result of Council projects, we may also need a
Wildlife Permit from the Department of Conservation (depending on the extent of works and timing),
as well as engage with mana whenua. However, we look to avoid impacting wildlife where possible.
The Council’s 2024 DP also contains objectives, policies, and rules to manage effects on habitats with
significant biodiversity values inland of Mean High Water Springs (the average highest level reached
by spring tides over an extended period, typical y 18–20 years). The DP is available online here. The
following section of the DP discusses this process: Part 3 Condition 27.2 – Page 25.
Our 2024 DP is a ful plan review and includes various chapters that may apply to penguin habitats,
including:
˗ Ecosystems and Indigenous Biodiversity
˗ Open Space Zone
˗ Natural Open Space Zone
˗ Coastal Environment
In addition to this, the DP objective ‘LIGHT-R2’ (on page three) applies to outdoor artificial lighting in
the coastal margin. Where resource consent is required under the rule, an applicant wil be required to
demonstrate whether there is evidence the area is used by at risk, threatened or endangered bird
species for reproduction, feeding, or nesting.
•
If not rules, do they have other methods concerning them?
Further to the above response, there is the Animal Bylaw 2024 that gives effect to and gives legal
powers to enforce the Council’s Dog Policy. The Council’s Dog Policy is a legislative requirement
under section 10 of the Dog Control Act 1996. Under the Animal Bylaw, Council can designate any
public place into certain classifications that impose restrictions and other rules in that area, including
requirements for dogs to be on-lead. The Dog Policy also outlines when Council may class a dog as
menacing under the Dog Control Act 1996.
In addition to this, please see the fol owing other local measures:
˗ The Council’s Urban Ecology and the Transport team have worked together alongside Forest
and Bird to identify sites of particular risk to penguins along the road. They have installed
reflective transport signage warnings of penguin risk to drivers, and placement of rocks and
logs in areas of antisocial driving are utilised from time to time to reduce the risk to penguins.
Please see our website here for how we are protecting our penguins.
˗ The Animal Control team has increased patrols of coastal sites to support compliance with
existing regulations regarding dogs. Signage has also been introduced at key locations to
inform dog walkers about the rules and the importance of following them for penguin
protection. This work is ongoing.
˗ The Urban Ecology and Parks Services teams have been working with Forest and Bird on the
‘Places for Penguins’ project to restore coastal habitats and provide improved habitats and
natural nesting sites for penguins. Plants are provided through the Council’s restoration
planting programme.
˗ The Council’s Communication team has supported community awareness through both social
media and traditional communication channels, informing residents of risks and encouraging
awareness.
˗ The Urban Ecology team has also partnered with various communities and Mana Whenua to
pilot penguin avoidance training for dogs. We hope to continue to support the delivery of this
service across the city, please see here for more information.
•
If any of the above plan matters apply, is it monitoring them?
•
Has it acted on monitoring?
In the event of resource consents and wildlife permits, conditions associated with the permits usual y
require some form of monitoring. However, this depends on the extent and scale of the project.
Council supports kororā monitoring programmes through partnerships with the Department of
Conservation, Mana Whenua, Places for Penguins and other community groups. These groups
undertake most of the on-the-ground monitoring, with Council assisting through habitat protection and
supporting safe nesting areas.
•
Are there dog control bylaws over beach areas?”
Yes, the Dog Policy and the Animal Bylaw set out where dogs are permitted on or off-leash along the
coast.
If you require further information, please contact [Wellington City Council request email].
Nāku noa, nā
Laura McIlhone
Advisor
Official Information & Privacy
Wel ington City Council
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