Anna’s Story: Protecting New Zealand's Yellow-Eyed Penguins

(Image: Meeting Anna Campell, the General Manager of Yellow-Eyed Penguin Trust)

An interview with: Anna Campell, General Manager at the Yellow Eyed Penguin Trust

Country & Region: Dunedin, New Zealand

Breakthrough: Marine Conservation & Coastal Tourism

Over the course of a month, the Edges of Earth team traveled from the southern tip of Aotearoa (New Zealand) to the north, experiencing firsthand both the country’s breathtaking beauty and its growing fragility. Along the way, the team met Anna Campbell, the General Manager of the Yellow-Eyed Penguin Trust. Anna shared how the landscapes and species she grew up with are shifting before her eyes, and how she and her team are adapting to protect one of the world’s rarest penguins.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

I grew up in Murihiku, Southland, right at the bottom of the South Island of New Zealand. For me, that meant long days in the sun with my father windsurfing or scuba diving, my mother sitting nearby, soaking it all in. It was a magical childhood.

At the time, this life felt normal in the sense that everyone I knew grew up this way. The sea lions on the beach, the birds, the rustle of the bush. Only now, as a mother myself, do I realize how special that was, and how important it is to protect that experience for my own children and grandchildren.

“Clean and Green” New Zealand

There are really two sides to New Zealand’s “clean and green” story. Yes, we have extraordinary biodiversity — lush native forests and crystal-clear rivers, home to unique and endangered species that exist nowhere else on Earth. It’s a haven, no question. But because we’re surrounded by so much natural beauty, we often take it for granted. It becomes invisible in a way. And while we might see ourselves as leaders in sustainability, we don’t always do enough to protect what we are so fortunate to have.

Cyclones have devastated regions, and our agriculture and horticulture sectors have felt the impact deeply. Agriculture is such a huge part of who we are, it’s definitely woven into our identity and economy. But it also means we need to get serious about how we do it ethically and sustainably.

(Image: A Yellow-Eyed Penguin being treated in the Dunedin Wildlife Hospital)

The Yellow-Eyed Penguin Trust

My background has always been in business, but sustainability is where my heart has been for as long as I can remember. Stepping into the role at the Yellow-Eyed Penguin Trust felt like a deeply personal decision and one that aligned with my values, as well as the direction I’ve always wanted my work to take.

The yellow-eyed penguin, or hoiho, is a sentinel for climate change and ocean health that’s facing serious challenges in our country. If we can turn things around for the hoiho, we’ll be able to save this species of bird. But more importantly, we’re addressing the root causes of environmental degradation. Issues that affect our ecosystems, communities, and children’s future, without a doubt.

The Power of the Penguin

This bird is what we call a taonga species to Ngāi Tahu, which means it holds cultural significance that’s spanned eons. It’s part of a living relationship between people and nature. Losing a taonga species is a blow to community wellbeing just as much as it is to the ecosystem that needs it. These birds carry intrinsic value far beyond ecosystem services. Their presence is also linked to food security. If the penguins are starving, what does that say about the health of the moana (ocean) and the ability of our people to gather kaimoana (seafood)? Their struggle is a warning signal and a call to protect the interconnected systems we all rely on.

(Image: The iconic Yellow-Eyed Penguin of the south)

We’ve spent nearly four decades at the Trust looking at how to best conserve the birds left, and actively restoring what’s been lost. Our work includes building resilience in nesting habitats through eco-sourcing — collecting native seeds from each reserve, raising them in our Otago Peninsula nursery, and planting them back out at sites like Long Point, Okia, Tavora, and others. When you walk through those thick coastal forests, planted by hand year after year, it feels spiritual. You can actually feel the effort of every volunteer, and every moment of care that’s gone into bringing life back to these places.

Now, I’m turning my focus to what’s happening at sea. We’re losing too many juveniles. We need to understand where they go and what happens when they’re out of our line of sight. This will help us understand how we can protect those foraging grounds. I’ve been gathering advisors from across Aotearoa and around the world — experts in everything from reef restoration to blue carbon, kelp forest recovery, and marine biodiversity to try and figure out what to do about this, and how to do it well. There’s already some exciting work underway, and I’m motivated by what’s possible. If we can act fast and smart, we have a real chance at achieving our ambitious goals.

(Image: The Trust is looking at what's happening out to sea with the loss of too many juveniles)

A Changing Climate

When it comes to the yellow-eyed penguin, the challenges they face ultimately come back to human beings as a collective. But that also means the solutions lie with us too. I find so much satisfaction in that idea. And I see the same drive in our young team of strong wahine (women), who are doing the long hours and field work every day with courage and conviction. It’s been incredibly inspiring to be part of this extended community — the yellow-eyed penguin whānau (extended family) — stretching across the southern coast of Aotearoa. And while our name may indicate that we are working to save a single species, what we’re really doing is laying the foundation for a much larger story.

I often think of this work like a supply chain, except instead of products, it’s about protecting a species. For most conservation programs, you can contain the problem: the animals live in one area, and you manage that space. But with the yellow-eyed penguin, it doesn’t work that way. They nest on land, forage far out at sea, and live across a vast stretch of coastline. They don’t gather in colonies like other seabirds. Instead, each pair has their own secluded spot. So their conservation isn’t one fixed location, it’s basically everywhere.

And this widespread habitat creates a completely different kind of challenge. These birds live on both public and private land, and many of the best nesting sites are in hard-to-reach places. During chick season, for example, the entire population might hatch within a week across hundreds of kilometers. In those moments, you need an army of people on the ground. You need access, coordination, and ridiculously fast action. And that only works if landowners, community groups, local government, and national departments are all working together.

(Image: Anna and her team taking the Edges of Earth Expedition team around Otago Peninsula key restoration sites)

That’s why collaboration is everything here. We’re often the ones at the front line, which means managing habitat and responding to threats while monitoring the birds. But we’re just one piece of a vast and intricate network. Rescue operations require vets, rehabilitation centers, researchers, transport, logistics, tourism operators, policymakers, and volunteers. From treating malnourished chicks to managing avian influenza risks, it’s a massive, multidisciplinary effort. No one can do it alone.

From a systems-thinking perspective, it’s time we take a step back and look at nature-related risks the way we might in business. Where are the pressure points? What tools are missing? How can we align sectors to create real, lasting impact? For this, I’ve been reconnecting with experts working in systems design.

This work only is possible because of a community, where none of us work in isolation. We carry deep social license, and we don’t take that lightly. That’s why we give everything to this. There’s no clean line between personal and professional here. You bring your whole self. It’s messy, human work, which is exactly why I’ll continue fighting for this.

As told to Andi Cross.

About the Ocean Breakthroughs

Resulting from the joint efforts of the Ocean & Coastal Zones community and building on the Ocean for Climate Declaration, the Ocean Breakthroughs contribute to the achievement of existing global targets, including the “30×30” goal – for at least 30 per cent of marine and coastal areas to be effectively conserved and managed by 2030. The work directly supports multilateral efforts, such as the Paris Agreement, the Global Biodiversity Framework, and the Sustainable Development Goals.

About the HLC x Edges of Earth Expedition

The women-led global expedition, Edges of Earth, has partnered with the Climate High-Level Champions to bring to life the Ocean Breakthroughs initiative by sharing personal accounts and climate action stories from remote coastal communities. This media partnership features interview-style stories that highlight the experiences and efforts of locals, Indigenous communities, nonprofits, and ocean scientists in addressing climate change. Nearing its third year in operation, the Edges of Earth expedition team has traveled to 48 countries working closely with diverse groups to understand and amplify their climate resilience strategies.