A row of 16 little blue penguins are offering a helping flipper to the fledgling Mauao Area Wildlife Trust in the hope of raising funds for their species' future protection.

Mauao Area Wildlife Trust, a not-for-profit-organisation, continues to monitor and protecting hundreds of penguins that live and breed on Mauao, Moturiki and Motuotau (Rabbit Island).

Mauao Area Wildlife Trust projects manager Dave Richards with the donated and framed sketch of Peter Crammond's "The Sea's That Way" at Shark Alley. Photo: Bruce Barnard.

But with funds a necessity, Tauranga artist Peter Crammond is helping out by donating his original sketch 'The Sea's That Way”, which depicts penguins being released onto the Mauao beach after being rehabilitated during the Rena Oil spill disaster.

Installed last October at ‘Shark Alley',the intricate Oamaru stone carving features 16 penguins being released, honouring the 300-plus that were oiled in the spill in 2011.

Mauao Area Wildlife Trust projects manager Dave Richards says the trust, established in 2013, is looking for bids in excess of $2000 to help with a number of penguin-specific projects.

'It will be put towards the penguin environment with pest control, the re-planting of some of the coastal areas especially Moturiki and creating some artificial nesting burrows,” says Dave.

The trust is extremely grateful for Peter's donation and equally of Don Banks of Prestige Framing and Gallery 59 who framed the sketch.

'We were very happy he [Peter] approached us and wanted to donate it to us,” he adds.

Apart from habitat protection and enhancement and pest control, the Trust is trying to help the public understand why their dogs and cats need to be kept away from the Mauao and Moturiki areas.

Dave says sadly people think it is okay to allow their dogs to walk with them onto or near Leisure Island.

'But before they know it, and even without them knowing it, a dog has reached into a penguin burrow and killed the chicks,” he says.

'Their smell is so strong that a dog finds them immediately and they are often very easy to reach.”

The original framed sketch is available for viewing by request. Bids can be made by emailing: [email protected] or by ringing the Trust chair person, Julia Graham, on: 021 077 6851.

Bidding starts at $2000 and closes on 17th December.