When we are working on an infrastructure project, we need to make sure we look after the environment and our wildlife.

When we first started this project, we noticed some signs of penguins nesting in the culverts under Rocks Road that we are looking at upgrading. We called upon the help of Kaikoura Ocean Research Institute’s Alastair Judkins and his penguin-sniffing dog Mena to help.

Over the weekend Alastair and Mena investigated the culverts under Rocks Road. They discovered a penguin in a pipe at the Port end of Rocks Road, and evidence of penguin activity in two culverts at the beach end.

The two culverts will now be re-monitored with CCTV to ensure there are no penguins nesting there. The penguin in the pipe was noted, but does not require rehoming as it is already located in a safe area where there are nesting boxes.