What you need to know

The hoiho, or yellow-eyed penguin, is a taonga species and national icon – so important that it appears on our five-dollar note. Yet this rare species is on the brink of extinction, facing a deadly mix of threats including fishing bycatch, starvation, disease, and the impacts of climate change. There are now fewer than 150 breeding pairs remaining in mainland New Zealand.

Without urgent action, we will lose the hoiho to extinction in the next few years.

The Government recently announced a temporary three-month fishing ban around the Otago Peninsula during breeding season – a welcome but limited step. Now, Ministers will decide on long-term protections that could halt the northern hoiho’s steep decline. WWF-New Zealand and the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust are calling for the strongest possible measures to save this endangered penguin. 

We owe it to future generations to ensure the hoiho survives.

Why your voice matters

The mainland hoiho population is on the brink of extinction.

Raising your voice now will help secure stronger protections, ensuring this nationally cherished penguin can thrive in the wild for generations to come.

What happens next?

Your message will go directly to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Minister Shane Jones, Minister Tama Potaka, and other Members of Parliament. 

By taking this quick action, you’re helping put decisive pressure on leaders to protect the hoiho – before it’s too late.