T\u0101wharau Ora School of Veterinary Science<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Koror\u0101 (little penguins) live all around New Zealand\u2019s coastal areas. They are the world\u2019s smallest penguin and hunt at sea, feeding on small fish. They come ashore to nest in burrows, caves and rocky crevices, under tree roots and in nest boxes. Koror\u0101 are the research focus for Professor John Cockrem from the School of Veterinary Science, whose work has an underlying whakatauk\u012b (proverb), \u2018He koror\u0101, he tohu \u014dranga, the little penguin is the sign of life\u2019. This philosophy, he explains, comes from the M\u0101ori view that the health of the koror\u0101 population is a sign of the health of the coastal marine environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Professor Cockrem works to gather knowledge about koror\u0101\u2019s breeding success, foraging behaviour and where they go to feed. He works with local groups and iwi in gathering this knowledge, and uses it to help with the management of the birds, as well as the marine areas where they live. He explained that an important part of his work has involved a personal journey in learning about the M\u0101ori way of looking at the world and the environment. \u2018It was during the process of looking for a local penguin study site that I started to engage with local iwi and then did some reading about the M\u0101ori world view of the environment,\u2019 he said. \u2018I discovered the notion that people, birds, animals, plants and rocks are all descendants from Rangi and Papat\u016b\u0101nuku, and hence birds and plants are wh\u0101nau [family], and people have a whakapapa [genealogy] that connects back to the same origins as the koror\u0101. That resonated with me. I\u2019m going to be seeking to change the official name of the species from little penguins to koror\u0101. This is one of the ways in which I can support M\u0101ori in their roles as kaitiaki [guardians].\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Professor Cockrem\u2019s primary study sites are on Mana and K\u0101piti islands, where he works with Hongoeka Marae and K\u0101piti Island Nature Tours to study the koror\u0101 that live there. \u2018The work is funded by the Vision M\u0101tauranga Capability Fund, and so iwi involvement is one of the key parts of it, as well as recognition of m\u0101tauranga M\u0101ori, traditional M\u0101ori knowledge.\u2019<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Professor Cockrem is also working with Napier Port, which is in the process of building a new wharf for container ships. The construction involves taking apart a rock wall where penguins have been nesting, and so a new koror\u0101 colony has been designed on land that was previously used for the storage of logs. \u2018We\u2019ve installed penguin nest boxes, done planting and made a ramp for the birds to come up from the sea,\u2019 he said. \u2018We\u2019re starting to play koror\u0101 calls to try to attract birds to come into this new colony. We\u2019ve moved some of the birds that were present in the rock wall to nest boxes in the colony, and then there are birds which are out to sea, so we\u2019re still awaiting their return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Ports are actually wonderful places for birds, because there is no public access, and there are no dogs, which are a big problem for koror\u0101,\u2019 he explained. \u2018Ports generally have predator control, and most have walls that penguins like to nest in. In the past, ports would often treat gulls, terns and shags as a nuisance, but with a little change in focus, port operations can actually coexist with the birds and, indeed, ports can be proud to be able to be places where birds can live and coexist with the commercial activities. Napier Port are just brilliant in their commitment to environmental work, community involvement and iwi involvement, and they are providing funding support for my koror\u0101 conservation research work at other locations around New Zealand. They are leaders in showing how a commercial operation can have this focus at the same time.\u2019 Professor Cockrem is now working to develop similar koror\u0101 work in other ports, including Port Taranaki and Port Lyttelton. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Penguin work always involves people, because they are interested in penguins,\u2019 said Professor Cockrem. \u2018I\u2019m working with community groups the length of New Zealand, so I am out in the world with my research, interacting with people. One of the things I do is advocate for koror\u0101 conservation, so I give public talks, such as about how dogs are a primary source of penguin mortality and the need for dog control. That\u2019s where I\u2019m able to use my knowledge and experience and put them into a context that is of relevance to people in New Zealand. It is rewarding to not just study penguins but also to be able to use knowledge of penguin biology to make a difference for the birds.\u2019<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PROFESSOR JOHN COCKREM T\u0101wharau Ora School of Veterinary Science Koror\u0101 (little penguins) live all around New Zealand\u2019s coastal areas. They are the world\u2019s smallest penguin and hunt at sea, feeding on small fish. They come ashore to nest in burrows, caves and rocky crevices, under tree roots and in nest boxes. Koror\u0101 are the research … Continue reading Conserving the koror\u0101<\/span>