Pukekura Ecology and Educational Programmes (PEEPs)

About The Pukekura Trust and our Ecology and Educational Programmes

The Pukekura Trust acts as kaitiaki (guardians) of a highly cultural and wildlife significant reserve on the Otago Peninsula. This Takiharuru reserve holds the largest kororā (blue penguin) colony on the Otago Peninsula and its significant human history dates back to the 14th Century.

For Manawhenua (people of the land), Takiharuru is wāhi tapu, wāhi tāoka (a sacred and special place). Rangatira (chief) Karetai and signatory of Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi), lived out his final years on the headland overlooking the beach. The descendants of Karetai maintain strong whakapapa (genealogical ties) to this whenua (land).

The Pukekura Trust is a charitable trust, composed of the Korako Karetai Trust (comprised of Karetai's descendants) and the Otago Peninsula Trust. Our aim is to protect, conserve, and enhance the fauna and flora, and the cultural and ecological knowledge at Pukekura (Taiaroa Head) for our visitors. Since the Trust's formation in 2010, the kororā colony at Takiharuru has substantially grown and is thriving. This success is attributed to our conservation mahi (work), which includes monitoring and protecting the kororā; controlling mammalian predators; removing exotic pest plant species; maintaining the reserve's integrity; providing public education about kororā and other wildlife; and expanding knowledge of the cultural history.

As part of our dedication to education, we have established the Pukekura Ecology and Educational Programmes (PEEPs) to help uplift aspiring young scientists. Our goal is to educate, inspire, and empower young people to pursue science careers involving kaitiakitanga (guardianship and interconnectiness) by giving them hands-on experiences with fauna and flora.

We run regular events where we invite applicants to join our staff for some hands-on experiences within Takiharuru. This may include penguin or other wildlife monitoring, reserve restoration work or specific education programmes.

Applicants must submit the official application form to the provided email address: biologist@pukekuratrust.org.nz.

Programmes are generally for 2-4 hours in duration and most occur during the daytime.

We typically receive a large number of applications and unfortunately have limited capacity. We will be in touch if you are the successful applicant.