Bush Penguin Restoration

Bush Penguin Restoration

Kate McDonald joined Herman Addens (in 1994) on the 700 acre property he'd bought in partnership in 1989. The decision was made to allow the land to regenerate and the title separated. They approached Prometheus for a loan to survey and covenant 75% of their 200 acre area.

Their block had been included in a survey report in 1995 for the Protected Natural Areas programme as the largest remnant of Bush (excluding Gray's Bush) between Gisborne and Tolaga Bay. 

The bird rescue service that they had established on their property under authorisation from the Department of Conservation is known as the "Bush Penguin" service in honour of it's first patient, a NZ Kingfisher whose antics when confronted with his own reflection reminded Kate and Herman of nothing so much as a strutting penguin.