In the dense forests of Fiordland lives the Tawaki, or Fiordland Crested Penguin. She’s one of the world’s rarest penguins — and an epic swimmer. Some Tawaki were recently observed swimming halfway to Antarctica in a couple of weeks. The champion of the group went 7,000km!

We’re not sure what oceanic delicacies are worth swimming that far for, but we do know that as a seabird, her diet may also include plastic. By 2050, 99% of seabird species will be ingesting plastic, the worst of it in the Tasman Sea — our moana.

Sustainable Coastlines has found, on average, 245 pieces of plastic per 1,000m2 in beach litter survey sites.* And that’s just on land.

Help the Tawaki out. Aside from keeping your doggo and yourself well away, look at your plastic intake. Here, start with an easy one: get yourself a reusable coffee cup. And use it.

*Litter Intelligence data correct as of 22 Oct, 2021 (insights.litterintelligence.org). 

Head to sustainablecoastlines.org to find out more.

The kekeno, or NZ fur seal, is a free-diving champion. She dives as deep as 238m, over the continental shelf, to nab her dinner. And she does it from sundown to sunrise — so when you next see her chilling in the sun, give her a break. 

Sadly, she's collateral damage for trawlers, long-line fishers and oil exploration. She’s also subjected to humans and dogs behaving badly, and harm from marine debris — especially rope. 

Plastic rope is all over our beaches. At 11,862 pieces found by Sustainable Coastlines so far, it's the sixth most common litter item. Ranked by weight, it’s third, sitting at 236.98kg!*

Please pick up rope when you see it. If there’s too much, tell your local council. For more ways to help solve the plastic pollution problem, visit sustainablecoastlines.org

*In Litter Intelligence coastal survey areas. Data correct as of 1 Oct, 2021 (insights.litterintelligence.org).