Feathered Fortress 

Protecting our Seabirds: The Feathered Fortress

The Feathered Fortress is a passionate volunteer-led initiative under MET, focused on protecting and restoring the seabird populations of Muriwai. This includes kororā (little blue penguins), ōi (grey-faced petrels), tākapu (gannets), as well as coastal and shorebirds such as tōrea (oystercatchers), gulls, and tara (white-fronted terns).

We combine on-the-ground mahi with research, monitoring, predator control, and habitat restoration to create safe nesting environments for these taonga species.

The Muriwai Penguin Project

At the heart of the Feathered Fortress is the Muriwai Penguin Project — a dedicated team of trained volunteers focused on the protection and recovery of kororā. Operating with a DOC and iwi-issued warrant, our team monitors and maintains penguin habitat along the coastal margin south of Muriwai, much of which is DOC-managed land.

The project began in 2014 with a bold goal: to restore penguin nesting in five forested bays south of Muriwai Beach. At the start, there were no recorded kororā in these bays, and predator numbers were high. After three years of intensive predator control, we recorded our first nesting pair in a purpose-built box — a major milestone for the project and the start of a growing colony.

Since then, breeding success has steadily improved, predator presence remains low, and nearly all monitored chicks have survived. The project continues to expand with 30 nesting boxes in the southern bays and boxes deployed along the 5 Mile Strip.

A recent highlight has been the involvement of Waimauku School students, who helped decorate our “penguin hotels.” It’s been a delight to see penguins taking to these boxes — and to know we’re helping grow the next generation of kaitiaki.

We’ve also established a clifftop trapline on private land above the southern bays and have begun trapping in the 5 Mile area to increase protection. 

Long term, the team aims to microchip penguins and collect data on population trends — laying the groundwork for better species understanding and stronger conservation outcomes.