Council Grants Fund Penguin Housing

Wellington's struggling Little Blue Penguin population is receiving much needed help thanks to a Council funded initiative called Places for Penguins.

The penguin population has experienced a steady decline as a result of predation and habitat destruction.

The Places for Penguins project received a $5000 grant to help make Wellington's coastal areas more penguin-friendly.

The project involves the construction of wooden nest boxes that protect the penguins from cats and dogs. The boxes also make breeding and nesting easier.

Grants Sub-committee Chair Councillor Hayley Wain believes the penguins will readily adopt the nest-boxes.

"The use of nest-boxes in an Oamuru project brought about a dramatic increase in the Otago penguin population. We hope to see similar results in Wellington."

The ‘Places for Penguins' initiative is just one of many community projects to receive funding from the second round of the Council's general grants.

Cr Wain says Wellington City Council has allocated grants to a wide variety of projects.

"We have approved funding for projects that will be of great benefit to Wellington. The projects range from the printing of Wellington Rape Crisis information booklets, to the development of a sustainable energy advice centre."

The deadline for the applications for the third round of Council grants is fast approaching. Funding is available for not-for-profit community groups and organisations undertaking projects that benefit the city socially, culturally, economically or environmentally.

Applications for the grants close at
5.00pm, Monday 31 March 2008.

For more information about grants, including a grants calendar, application forms, seminar dates, past allocations and guides to completing your application, visit www.wellington.govt.nz or phone the Council on (04) 499 4444.