Calling on Ministers to use their powers to protect hoiho
Hoiho (yellow-eyed penguins) are a taonga species — and one of the world’s rarest penguins. They were voted Bird of the Year in 2024, and feature on our $5 note.
The northern population, whose habitat ranges from Banks Peninsular to Stewart Island, is genetically distinct from those in the south (found on the sub Antarctic Islands). The northern population is in crisis — rapidly declining and at risk of extinction.
Department of Conservation data shows the northern population has collapsed by 80% since 2008, from 739 breeding pairs to just 143. Earlier this year, the Department of Conservation warned that hoiho could vanish from the mainland within two decades, and alarming recent trends suggest it could happen even sooner.
Among the range of threats facing hoiho, commercial fishing stands out as a threat we can immediately mitigate. Hoiho can become entangled in set nets and drown. That’s why ELI wrote to two Ministers in June, calling for urgent intervention.
We wrote to:
The Minister for Conservation — to initiate a Population Management Plan for hoiho under the Wildlife Act, with a zero bycatch limit to protect the northern population.
The Minister for Oceans and Fisheries — to set a zero fishing-related mortality limit for hoiho and prohibit set net fishing in key habitats as an urgent interim step.
Ministers respond:
Ministers responded in mid-July, saying they were expecting further advice from officials (both Fisheries NZ and DOC) on the range of tools available to manage threats to hoiho. Minister Jones said the advice will be informed by “a new scientific multi-threat risk assessment”. This is due in August.
We wrote to Minister Jones a second time:
Since writing the first letters, ELI was made aware of three more hoiho bycatch deaths. Subsequently we asked the Minister to use his emergency powers under section 16 of the Fisheries Act 1996 (the Act), saying:
You have the power to implement temporary emergency closures, if you are satisfied that the circumstances in section 16(1) of the Act are met. Based on the information available to ELI, we consider that the circumstances in section 16(1) of the Act may have been met.
We're also asking the Minister to address the indirect effects of fishing on the hoiho. For example, blue cod, a key prey species of the northern population of hoiho, are showing a decline in abundance in the habitat area.
Hoiho deserve every chance to survive and thrive on our coastlines. Protecting them means taking decisive action now — starting with removing the most immediate risks we can control.
You can read our letters here:
Be an advocate for hoiho
Hoiho need our help. If you’d like to add your voice and call for stronger protections, you can write directly to the Ministers. Below are some key points you might like to include in your message, along with their contact details.
You may wish to add something personal about why you believe hoiho deserve better protection and a chance to thrive on our coastlines.
Key points to include:
Hoiho are an endangered taonga species, and the northern population, which is genetically unique, is in crisis.
DOC data shows an 80% decline of the northern population since 2008, with just 143 breeding pairs left.
Set netting causes avoidable deaths, with three deaths between April and June this year alone.
Set netting is one of the few threats that can be quickly managed or removed.
We’re asking for a zero bycatch limit and a ban on set netting in key habitats to give hoiho a chance to recover.
Ministers must address the adverse indirect effects of fishing on hoiho, which include the depletion of fish stocks, such as blue cod, that hoiho rely on.
Minister contact details:
Hon Tama Potaka — Minister of Conservation
Email: t.potaka@parliament.govt.nz
Hon Shane Jones — Minister for Oceans and Fisheries
Email: s.jones@parliament.govt.nz
Every message counts — thank you for helping protect hoiho!
