Dotterels, little blue penguins, shags and fur seals are all being cared for at the Te Maunga Wildlife Centre.

So far 500 birds have been cared for, but the centre is equipped to house much more.

The centre is seeing more little blue penguins than anything else.

Three fur seals have been captured as a precaution.

Maritime NZ Wildlife staff member Pauline Conayne says a counsellor is being brought in to help the staff and volunteers deal with what they are seeing on a daily basis.

'Seeing photos of dead wildlife is heart wrenching, but seeing it for yourself is devastating.

'We are bringing a counsellor in for people to talk to if they want.”

Pauline says they are expected to see a lot more dead wildlife, than what has already been brought in.

'I estimate that we have only seen around 10 per cent of what has actually died out there.

Three juvenile fur seals have also been brought into the centre.

'They have been captured as a precaution. I don't know where they have been captured from but they have come in over the last couple of days.”