Date:  10 June 2026

A kororā scored an unfortunate own goal when it found itself entangled in a football net in a New Plymouth garden last week.

Jackie Tomlinson’s grandson Ezra (10) spotted a kororā / little blue penguin caught in his football net in the back garden.

“My husband jumped out of bed and we headed down the lawn to check it out,” Jackie says.

While the opportunity for an easy score on social media beckoned, the fast-paced family flagged the chance to get photos and video, instead focussing on a strong offensive effort to save the bedraggled penguin.

A carefully planned and swiftly executed move followed.

“We just wanted to keep it safe, so after cutting it free, we wrapped it in a towel and popped it into a box,” Jackie says.

The Tomlinson family, who live not far from East End Reserve in New Plymouth, was surprised at the lengths the penguin had gone to get into their garden.

“It had walked up the beach, across boulders, the carpark, up a bank, over the railway line, and under our gate before it finally blundered into Ezra’s football net in the dark.”

Ezra started school late that day as – after phoning the 0800 DOC HOT line for advice – the family took the penguin to the New Plymouth Vets where it was further disentangled from the net.

“It was a pretty cool experience for him to be able to see the penguin then take that story to school,” says Jackie.

At this time of year, kororā are coming ashore to nest and mate. The birds have been known to walk up to 1.5 km inland to find the perfect nesting spot.

“People need to realise penguins are about, and residents should keep their dogs on a leash in designated areas and keep their pets inside at night,” says Jackie.

“It’s pretty cool they are around but we need to help protect them.”

DOC Programme Lead Marine and Compliance, Cam Hunt, was called on to retrieve the unharmed penguin from the vets, and then release it at the nearby beach.

He says Jackie and her whānau did exactly the right thing by blowing the whistle on the penguin’s predicament, calling DOC and taking the right steps to help and protect the bird.

“Some terrific naturing by Jackie and the team to swing into action and help out this penguin – it was a great effort,” he says.

Keen soccer player Ezra will likely be getting a new net after the penguin’s misadventure ruined his goal.

If a penguin is clearly injured, or in immediate danger, contact 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468) for advice.

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