Western Bay Wildlife Trust

Western Bay Wildlife Trust is a not for profit conservation organisation dedicated to the protection of wildlife and native ecosystems in the Western Bay of Plenty Region.
The trust has a strong focus on monitoring the Kororā (little blue penguin) and Oi (grey-faced petrel) populations based in Mount Maunganui.
Education and advocacy through hands on involvement are core objectives, to encourage and inspire community ownership over our native biodiversity and safeguard it for the future.

GET INVOLVED

Chair- Melissa McLuskie

Melissa joined the penguin team in 2014 whilst undertaking her Bachelor of Biological Sciences and Animal Behaviour. She has worked with a diverse range of animals through wildlife veterinary nursing and zookeeping and is now driven to protect and enhance the lives of wildlife and reduce human-wildlife conflict.

Trustee- Julia Graham

Bachelor of Applied Science Environmental Management, Penguin Researcher, Wildlife Responder Maritime NZ – Rena crisis, Team Leader Mount Penguin Monitoring. Former Chairperson WBWT

Trustee- Paul Cuming

Paul Cuming comes from a background of seabird research. In his spare time, he has spent a little under 30 years studying the Grey-faced Petrel/Oi on Mauao. His other skills pertaining to all birds are identification, handling, capturing, measuring, banding [ringing], and identifying their songs. A series of talks on bird calls in 2018/9 was carried out, spreading the knowledge of bird calls region-wide. He is also currently Regional Representative for BirdsNZ, a group fostering the study of birds, and helps with running courses for youth on the aforementioned skills. Currently, Paul is the voice behind the 0800 SICK PENGUIN number and operates a small band of volunteers who work in conjunction with the ARRC Vets to ensure Little Penguins are looked out for.

Tim Short

Tim has had a life long passion to protect nature for the future.

He has been a Wildlife Conservator of Mount Tutu Eco-Sanctuary for over 30 years.

In 1993 Tim and wife Debbie placed a Queen Elizabeth II National Trust Covenant on their forest sanctuary to protect it forever, and are life members of the QEII National Trust.

Volunteer stoat and rat lines for Otanewainuku Kiwi Trust 2004 - 2014.

Wildlife Responder Maritime NZ Rena Crisis

Wildlife Team Leader, Rena Incident Command Centre

Wildlife Representative, Maritime NZ Rena Crisis Review, Massey University

Team Leader, Mount Penguin Monitoring

Melissa Kellett

Bachelor of Applied Science in Environmental Studies – Currently doing a Masters in Biology through the University of Waikato – Wildlife Responder Maritime NZ, Rena crisis – Mount Penguin Monitoring team member – Coastal sand dune monitoring and protection

Satsuki Takenouchi

Growing up in Japan, she has seen and experienced the impact of humans on the the natural environment. She soon developed a passion to help save the environment for future generations, which lead her to complete the Bachelor of Applied Science in Environmental Management at AUT. Satsuki joined the WBWT team following the Rena Oil Spill and has been a key monitoring team member ever since!