Little Penguin

1. Slate-blue back and white underparts, creating a distinctive two-tone appearance

2. Small size compared to other penguins, standing only about 30 cm tall

3. Tend to come ashore at dusk in groups known as a ‘raft’

Little Penguins are monogamous, breeding between July and November. They're excellent divers, hunting small fish in coastal waters. Urban development, including car strikes, introduced predators such as ferrets, dogs and cats, and entanglement in fishing nets when at sea pose significant threats to their colonies. Despite their small size, they can live up to 7 years in the wild.

Look for Little Penguins along rocky coastlines, particularly at dusk when they return from fishing trips. They nest in burrows, rock crevices, or sometimes under coastal buildings and breed on various islands. Dawn and dusk are prime viewing times. Listen for their loud, sometimes comical calls near nesting sites. Tip: Visit protected colonies like those in Wellington Harbour or Banks Peninsula for a better chance of spotting these shy birds.

Kororā have inhabited New Zealand's coasts for centuries, playing a role in Māori culture and folklore and have become beloved icons in many coastal communities, ‘He kororā, he tohu ōranga, the little penguin is the sign of life’ is a whakataukī (proverb) describing their role in indicating marine ecosystem health. The little penguin’s Māori name Kororā originates from the local legend denoting that an injured Māori chief requested penguin soup and upon tasting it exclaimed ‘Ka reka te Kororā\!’ meaning ‘how sweet/tasty is the penguin’.