Help us to make a difference
The West Coast Penguin Trust is a charitable trust. Its aim is to conserve the blue penguins, Fiordland crested penguins, other threatened seabirds and their habitat on the West Coast. The Trust raises funds, conducts research and implements practical projects relating to penguins in particular, as well as to other birds subject to similar threats.
We have a variety of ways you can help, from making a donation via Givealittle or direct credit, becoming an annual supporter, adopting a penguin yourself or for someone else, purchasing a t-shirt or making a bequest. More information about each of these is below.
Adopt a Blue Penguin – $120/year
Symbolically adopt a Blue Penguin for 12 months.
If you would like to purchase this as a gift for someone else, please add their name and address in the message box or email us at [email protected].
The adoption package includes:
- Annual Supporter membership
- Adoption Certificate
- Blue Penguin Fact Sheet
- Information Brochure
- “I Love Penguins” stickers
- Bumper sticker
- Newsletter email subscription
- Blue penguin torch keyring
Purchase Fabulous Penguin T-shirts
Artist, Giselle, has kindly created a very original design, which has been printed on ‘Genuine Gildan’ shirts, selected for their environmental and ethical approach to their manufacturing operation.
The new t-shirts, grey (unisex), turquoise (ladies’) or beige (children’s) are $30 and we know you will love wearing them, as they look great, they feel great, you know they have been made responsibly, and you’re supporting penguin conservation! How good is that?!

Some of the West Coast Penguin Trust in the new t-shirts, (Jill, Paul, Leon, Rueben, Kerry-Jayne and Inger)
Giselle’s design captures both of the West Coast penguins, the Fiordland crested penguin (tawaki) and the blue penguin (korora) and adds the words – West Coast Originals – as these penguins most certainly are. The Trust’s logo features on the back.
If you would like to buy one, please email [email protected], with your size and colour, and once availability is confirmed, please make a direct bank payment for $30 + $5 for postage (or + $6.50 for two shirts) and include your name and ‘t-shirt’ in the reference section.
Gildan t-shirt size guide. (We have most sizes in stock.)
Trust bank account: West Coast Penguin Trust, KiwiBank Acc No: 38–9011–0518009–00
Giselle creates wonderful images of New Zealand native birds and much more. You can view her work here: Giselle Draws. Giselle also kindly created a bumper sticker for the Trust, and for an additional $5, we’ll pop one of these eye-catching and thought provoking works of art in with your t-shirt.

Tumbleweed Fiordland crested penguin tee shirt (available in a variety of colours)
We are also delighted to have the support of Tumbleweed Tees.
$5 from the sale of each of their gorgeous new tawaki t shirts will be donated to the Trust.
Thank you for your support!
Become an Annual Supporter
We hope you will join us as an Annual Supporter and we will keep you up to date with a newsletter. Simply use our Givealittle page, noting “annual supporter” in the comments box. Alternatively, print out this Annual Supporter Form and post it to the Trust’s office.
Annual subscriptions: Individual $25 Family $40 Student $10 Life Membership $500
For Corporate & Business Supporters, the suggested annual donation is $300 and there are all sorts of ways you could achieve this, perhaps with the help of your clients! We will provide a certificate for you to display, as your staff and clients or customers may be interested to learn of your association with the Trust and may themselves wish to contribute to the Trust’s conservation efforts. You will also receive our newsletter. For larger organisations, please contact the Trust for a tailor made partnership that will provide you with a unique way to show that your company cares about the environment.
Make a donation
All donations over $5 are tax deductible in New Zealand, whether given as a one off gift or as an annual donation.
Donate now by Credit Card
Online credit card donations are a welcome and easy way to make a one off donation, which can be made on our secure Givealittle page.
Donate by Online Banking
West Coast Penguin Trust, KiwiBank Acc No: 38–9011–0518009–00
Please include your name in the reference box and then email [email protected], so we can thank you, issue a tax receipt, and include you in our list of supporters for newsletters.
Donate by Cheque
West Coast Penguin Trust, PO Box 63, Hokitika 7842.
Please include your name and address so that we can thank you, issue a tax receipt, and add you to our list of supporters for newsletters.
Donate Regularly
Regular donations are the lifeblood of any charitable trust. The Trust is looking to its supporters to make small regular donations. We’d love you to print out the automatic payment form, complete the amount and frequency of your choice and post it to the Trust.
Donate by Payroll Giving
If your employer offers a payroll giving scheme, this is a wonderful way to donate as you receive one third of every donation back as a tax credit. The advice from the IRD is to give your employer:
- the West Coast Penguin Trust’s name
- amount of the donation you want to make
- pay period, or periods, when you want the donation to be made
- the Trust’s bank account (Kiwi Saver Acc No: 38–9011–0518009–00) or postal address (PO Box 63, Hokitika 7842)
Leave a Gift in your Will
A gift in your will can help future generations of the Nationally Endangered Fiordland crested penguin, Declining populations of blue penguin and our precious Westland petrel to survive and thrive in their natural West Coast habitat.
Thank you for considering such a valuable and valued bequest.
We have put more information into this one page document: Leaving a Gift in your Will to the West Coast Penguin Trust and we’d be very happy to discuss such a gift with you. Whoever you are, whatever your situation, you can help make a difference by including a gift to our charity in your will. Your lasting legacy will help protect wildlife on the West Coast.
Join our Mailing List
The Trust’s quarterly newsletter is available to anyone with an interest in penguins and other seabirds. Click here to subscribe to the newsletter.
We would prefer to send you the newsletter electronically, as it is more economical for the Trust, but if you do not have access to email, we can post a copy to you. Please drop a line to the Trust, PO Box 63, Hokitika 7842.