Penguin Conservation | Sustainability

Pōhatu Penguins is a family- owned and operated eco- tourism business with 30+ years history of advocating and helping to fund the protection of Kororā (Little Penguin) on the family farm in Pōhatu/Flea Bay. Our guides are all conservationists, friends and family - with years of working in penguin conservation, a passion for sharing their stories and a wealth of local knowledge passed down several generations.

When the Helps family first began their conservation work the penguins faced massive challenges that threatened their very existence. These challenges included predation via introduced predators such as dogs, cats, ferrets and stoats, gill net fishing and other human disturbances. Colonies around Banks Peninsula declined at an alarming rate and most disappeared altogether. Through predator trapping, monitoring, rehabilitation and immense dedication the family has stabilized the Pōhatu colony and it grew for many years to become the largest of its kind on mainland New Zealand!

In addition to their penguin conservation work the Helps family have also, for many years, protected native forests and other endemic species. Their work helped found the award-winning Wildside Conservation Project.

To this day, the family continues to be leaders in conservation and have recently received the New Zealand Order of Merit in recognition of their work.

Their efforts continue to be funded via Pōhatu Penguins’ tours so when purchasing a tour, clients have a positive input on our little Kororā.

Small group tours run from Akaroa over one of the most scenic back country roads by 4WD van to Pōhatu/ Flea Bay and Pōhatu marine reserve, a beautiful sheltered bay out on the wild south eastern corner of Banks Peninsula and home to the largest Little Penguin Colony on mainland New Zealand with over 1500 penguins breeding there.

In 2020 we have also created the Helps Pōhatu Conservation trust in order to extend the much needed research to better understand populations trends and their foraging habitat.
You can also help us out helping them by visiting our trust page above or symbolically Adopt a penguin.

Owner and founder
Shireen Helps
Shireen Helps
Owner and founder
Owner and founder of the business. I am a fourth generation farmer on Banks peninsula and when I grew up penguins were in every bay. When my husband and I moved to Pohatu there were heaps of penguins, but as the years rolled on we discovered that the populations were dropping all around the peninsula and that we were lucky to have some left. We decided to do something. A quick look around the hills and we realized that the main reason for the population decrease was the introduction of land predators such as ferrets and stoats. We began the laborious job of trapping. Many traps are set high above the hills in thick bush - it's not an easy job! After a few years of diligent trapping and other conservation efforts we saw the penguin colony double. Along with predation, human disturbances can also disturb and impact the penguins. In order to minimize human disturbances we began running penguin tours so that we may show people these beautiful creatures, but in a controlled environment to minimize impact. And to these day these tours also directly fund the much needed revenue to continue our conservation work.

Slowly the business grew and activities have been added on. I believe that there is now an option for all to enjoy and I truly hope that joining our tours will enable you to experience the love we have for the place, and the wildlife that call Pohatu home!
General Manager
Kevin Parthonnaud
Kevin Parthonnaud
General Manager
I am another French frog that has been trapped inside the Akaroa volcano.

After my environmental studies in France the call of the travel was in me! I arrived in New Zealand in January 2009 with a working holiday visa and 3 words of English.

When I discovered Pohatu/Flea bay, I thought I reached heaven. Shireen took me on a kayaking trip straight away on a still sea. We went into every single sea-cave we could find - what a place! Overtime love found its place and Averil's charm was the last thing that made me decide on staying. What else could I ask for? A stunning isolated area where I could kayak, help the environment and surrounding wildlife.
Nature guide and Lead conservation education ranger
Joey Cataliotti Valdina Del Grano
Joey Cataliotti Valdina Del Grano
Nature guide and Lead conservation education ranger
Mother of three and daughter of Francis and Shireen Helps, 5th generation, Akaroa. Growing up in Flea Bay as a child I have always had a special relationship with little penguins. As a child I learned to sleep to the sound of their calls as several pairs were nesting underneath the floorboards of my bedroom. Frequently after a very bad sea storm, our kitchen would act as a recovery ward for injured of under nourished penguins.

I am very proud of the conservation work that both my parents have done over the years to insure the survival of this special little bird and I am happy to share their story and my beautiful home with everyone on our tours!
Nature guide and penguin rehabber
Averil Parthonnaud
Averil Parthonnaud
Nature guide and penguin rehabber
I am Shireen's niece and I have been lucky enough to spend pretty much all my childhood holidays at Pohatu/Flea bay.

Animal lover, I very soon showed interest in helping and taking care of the penguins! One day Shireen offered me to start working with her; it was just the two of us at first which was really enriching as we were growing the business and a lot had to be done!
Nature guide and Adopt a penguin manager
Geraldine Guillemot Peacock
Geraldine Guillemot Peacock
Nature guide and Adopt a penguin manager
Born and raised in the Loire Valley in France, I spent few years travelling in different parts of the world (mainly on islands!) before arriving in New Zealand in 2009. It was meant to be for a year... it has now been 15 years! Passionate about the protection of the environment, I joined the dedicated Pohatu Penguins family in 2014 as a nature guide and administration assistant, then in 2020 the Helps Pohatu Conservation Trust board of trustees. I am in charge of the Penguin Adoption program which helps funding the conservation work we do and allows people all around the world to connect with our incredible wildlife, even from a distance.
Nature and Sea-kayaking lead guide
Benoit Navarron
Benoit Navarron
Nature and Sea-kayaking lead guide
Born in France, I always love to look at birds and watch their behaviour. After my study in conservation and eco-tourism. I spent a lot of time with different birdwatchers and scientists allowing me to increase my knowledge about these animals. I love to go outside with my camera and shoot the wildlife that surrounds us. I am a traveler who found a home in beautiful New Zealand. Here can practice my two specials skills: birding and kayaking.
Sea-kayaking guide and Trapper
Vila Kasikova
Vila Kasikova
Sea-kayaking guide and Trapper
Born in the Czech Republic, I always loved to travel to remote countries to discover the wonders of Nature. I graduated in Ecology and Sustainable Forestry. I first came to New Zealand in 2008 for a year of working holiday, and Banks Peninsula became my home thanks to my second trip, when I started to live on a farm and learned pest control from our old neighbour. He introduced me to Hinewai and Pōhatu reserves. In Europe I worked as a whitewater guide for years, so it wasn�t hard to switch to the sea-kayaking tours. I love the complexity and variability of my outdoor jobs (guiding, trapping, farm hand) and the unique team spirit.

About Us

Pōhatu Penguins is a family-run business with a long-standing history of protecting the Kororā (Little Penguin) in Pōhatu Bay on the family farm.

As a business and a team, we are all committed to:

Shireen Helps

Kevin Parthonnaud

Joey Cataliotti Valdina Del Grano

Averil Parthonnaud

Geraldine Guillemot Peacock

Benoit Navarron

Vila Kasikova

Conserving the Little Penguins for over 30 years

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