Brief reprieve for penguins at Kennedy Point after emergency marina meeting
Wednesday, 14 April 2021
Developers of a controversial marina at Waiheke’s Kennedy Point have paused work until Monday after an emergency meeting about protecting penguins in the area.
The developers met with groups including Forest and Bird, the Department of Conservation, Auckland Council and mana whenua after a protest stopped construction on Monday.
Campaigners in kayaks got between the construction barge and the rock breakwater, while more protectors organised a sit-in on the breakwater.
They were concerned plans to remove boulders from the breakwater could harm the kororā, or little blue penguins, that have their burrows there.
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The developers are now considering feedback from the meeting, with work on hold until at least Monday when Stuff understands they will give an update on next steps.
Penguin expert Professor John Cockrem from Massey University’s school of veterinary science told the meeting in his view the plan for the penguins was not adequate.
He told Stuff the plans he had seen for deconstructing the rock wall did not represent best practice and did not include all the things that could be done to prevent harm to penguins.
“I indicated I felt a bird protection plan is needed that encompasses all the adverse effects from the construction and ongoing adverse effects.”
He said he had offered his professional services to the developers, but did not yet know whether this would be taken up.
Lissy Fehnker-Heather, regional manager for Auckland Forest and Bird, called the meeting a “robust and frank exchange of views”.
She said the current penguin management plan was not sufficient from the perspective of Forest and Bird.
The organisation encouraged the developers to take time to develop a plan alongside experts and mana whenua, she said.
“We caution them that until the community and mana whenua are satisfied the plan is sufficient, it's unrealistic to expect that work will be able to continue.”
Karen Saunders, general manager of Native Bird Rescue on Waiheke Island, estimated there could be between 30 and 40 penguins in the area whose lives might be put at risk.
Disturbing the penguins’ burrows could make them “run in terror,” she told Stuff prior to the meeting. For kororā moulting late in the season, that could lead to them drowning.
She said while the passion for protecting penguins at the meeting was amazing, it was “disappointing” the developers had not agreed to give them notice of work starting.
“There’s no stop work guarantee.
“They’ve left our whole community anxious that Monday morning they could just start.”
While Auckland Council has said making sure the penguins were looked after was one of Auckland Council’s priorities when issuing consent for the project, Saunders isn't convinced. She called the monitoring of the penguins to date “insufficient”.
Amanda De Jong, manager for compliance monitoring at the council, said there were a range of practical requirements for the developers, including monitoring, inspection and marking of burrows and limiting construction hours during their breeding season.
The developers have been contacted for comment following Wednesday’s meeting.
On Monday, Kennedy Point Marina director Kitt Littlejohn said they were listening to what the community was saying about the little blue penguins.
“We welcome the opportunity to meet and work with special interest groups and to discuss our shared desire to protect the Little Blue Penguins.”