- Conservation status
- In serious trouble
Hoiho are disappearing before our eyes. They’re now one of the rarest penguins in the world with just 1700 pairs remaining.
If nothing is done to reverse current declines, scientists predict that hoiho could be extinct on mainland Aotearoa within 10-20 years.
Hoiho are shy penguins, hiding their nests in dense vegetation. But their call is shrill and attention-grabbing – giving them their te reo Māori name, which means 'noise shouter'.
The hoiho is one of only two birds to win Bird of the Year twice, taking the crown in 2019 and again in 2024.
Campaign Manager
Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust
We're old flames, childhood sweethearts, the trusty true love that pulls through when NZ's most celebrated penguin gets stood up. Te Tautiaki Hoiho Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust have been championing hoiho since 1987. We're out there everyday reforesting our coastlines, protecting reserves where hoiho nest and advocating for this rare and unique bird.
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