Penguin plan for Port Tarakohe
Port Tarakohe in Golden Bay could become a little blue penguin ecotourism attraction, says penguin expert Professor John Cockrem.
The Massey University academic this week enjoyed his first visit to the port, which has long been a home for the world’s smallest penguin, known officially as the little penguin or korora¯ .
‘‘The Port Tarakohe site is the best artificial habitat for little penguins that I have seen in New Zealand, and I’ve been to many penguin places around the North and South islands,’’ Cockrem said.
With a multimillion-dollar redevelopment of the Tasman District Council-owned port planned, there was a ‘‘huge opportunity’’ for the creation of a penguin environment precinct at the site, he said.
It could become an eco-tourism attraction for the Bay, Cockrem said. There were examples around New Zealand of such operations, including the successful Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony. ‘‘That colony has grown as a tourist attraction,’’ he said, adding that it supported a fulltime penguin scientist.
Blue Penguins Pukekura was another colony that could be visited on the Otago Peninsula, as well as Pohatu Penguins, near Akaroa. ‘‘Again, an eco-tourism operation, and money comes in to support the conservation action.’’
Along the western side of Port Tarakohe, dozens of nesting boxes set into the ground many years ago have had a high occupancy rate.
‘‘Then you’ve got the flax and taupata, providing shade, and then this relatively flat area where the birds can come out,’’ Cockrem said. ‘‘The adults can socialise – they can display and find mates.’’
It was a great spot for chicks as well, he said. At about three weeks old, chicks reached the ‘‘post-guard phase’’ when both parents headed out to find food.
‘‘The chicks come out of their nest sites, and where they have the opportunity in a flat area – which they have at Port Tarakohe – they’ll interact, they’ll go into the neighbour’s nest box, they’ll chase the parents when they come out,’’ Cockrem said. ‘‘So this area, which just looks like a gravel path, is actually a really valuable part of the habitat for the birds.’’
A draft business plan for the proposed redevelopment of the port includes provision for more nesting boxes, but Cockrem said the idea of an environment precinct would extend ‘‘a long way beyond that’’.
‘‘In order to realise this, you would need to change the situation so this became a dedicated bird and environment area, which would mean the people who now come here to go fishing would need to be redirected.’’
The draft business case includes a proposal to extend the breakwater on the eastern side of the harbour, near the commercial area.
‘‘People could go ocean fishing here,’’ Cockrem said. ‘‘They could build little fishing platforms for kids and deliberately create an opportunity for fishing as part of the whole package.’’
On the western side, a ramp could be built for the penguins so people could see them coming ashore, he said.
An education centre could also be a focal point for visitors, including school children.
‘‘But it will require, for the safety of the birds and the studies, that this would no longer be random public access.’’
Cockrem gave two public talks in Takaka on the biology and conservation of little blue penguins, which drew about 80 people. He also spoke to Tasman District Council staff about the idea of an environment precinct.
Members of the newly created Mohua Blue Penguin Trust backed the precinct proposal. Trustee Ron Eckman encouraged penguin lovers to promote the idea in the comments section of the submission form for the draft business plan.
Submissions on the draft plan are due to close on September 30, with a hearing scheduled to be held at Takaka on August 7.
‘‘The Port Tarakohe site is the best artificial habitat for little penguins that I have seen in New Zealand.’’ Professor John Cockrem