Voting open for this year’s best kororā

Published: 21 October 2024

Last Updated: 30 October 2024

The ‘world famous’ Penguin of the Year competition, returning for a seventh year, has a serious message behind the flippered fun.

The 15 residents of the National Aquarium of New Zealand’s Penguin Cove are vying for public votes in Penguin of the Year 2024. Among them are the 2023 champion, Mr Mac, and the Cove’s latest addition, Maggie.

Rebekah Cuthbert, Supervisor of Birds, says many of the Cove’s kororā, or little penguins, have made full use of the facility’s rehabilitation centre.

“Our first priority is to rehabilitate the penguins so they can return to the wild, the ones who wouldn’t survive because of ongoing illness or injury we can provide a home for at the National Aquarium.”

Many of the kororā arrived as abandoned chicks, are victims of dog attacks, or are partially sighted. Some are missing flippers due to getting caught in fishing nylon. Penguin of the Year is an opportunity to share knowledge about the threats kororā face with the community locally, nationally, and globally, says Rebekah. “Our kororā have gained international attention through this online competition, and thousands of their followers vote for their favourites.

“We want the competition to inspire people to care about kororā, maybe even make them think beyond penguins to other threatened or endangered species out there who deserve protection.”

For more information about Penguin of the Year, people can visit nationalaquarium.co.nz or the National Aquarium’s social media channels. The Penguin of the Year winner will be announced on 30 October.

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