To help ensure the safety of penguins nesting and roosting in the DOC Scenic Reserve between Kaiteriteri Beach and Little Kaiteriteri, it is now a DOC requirement that dogs are on a leash.
Dogs are very curious and can pick up a penguin scent from up to 20 metres away. Having dogs under control on a leash ensures that their curiosity doesn't result in a disastrous outcome for a little blue or any other ground-dwelling wildlife. Even a disturbance around a burrow site can result in the eggs or chicks being abandoned and another generation lost.
The DOC conservation status for little penguins is at risk/declining, making these preventative measures an important part of ensuring their safety.
Dogs on a leash please.