Dannevirke holidaymakers Alexandra and Morgan Kernaghan were among
those captivated by a penguin on Te Awanga Beach near Hastings last
Friday.
Christine McKay
The Kernaghan family have been holidaying at Te Awanga for 14 years.
Even last year's devastating floods have not put them off summer in
their caravan.
Now a special encounter on the beach has made their favourite holiday spot even more special, Russell Kernaghan says.
"My youngest daughter and I were walking along the beach when along waddled a penguin," he said.
"We saw two come out of the water, but one was a reluctant visitor and headed back out to sea again.
"However, the penguin which stayed wasn't bothered by people at all.
"He seemed quite happy. In fact it was the people on the beach who were in the biggest flap. Everyone was so excited to see the penguin."
Mr Kernaghan went back to the Te Awanga motor camp to let his other daughter, Morgan, know what was happening.
"The camp nearly emptied out as people went to take a look for themselves," he said.
"I've never seen anything like it in 14 years of holidaying here," he said.
Mr Kernaghan's wife, Glenda, said the penguin appeared on the same day holidaymakers had seen orcas swimming in the bay.
"We've seen little blue penguins in the bay before too, but never any penguins on the beach. It was amazing."
Mr Kernaghan contacted the Department of Conservation in Hawke's Bay and was told the penguin would be fine as long as it was left alone.
"It was really happy and beachgoers were able to get up close.
"It only waddled off when it saw a dog coming along the beach and it happily took itself back out to sea," he said.
source
Now a special encounter on the beach has made their favourite holiday spot even more special, Russell Kernaghan says.
"My youngest daughter and I were walking along the beach when along waddled a penguin," he said.
"We saw two come out of the water, but one was a reluctant visitor and headed back out to sea again.
"However, the penguin which stayed wasn't bothered by people at all.
"He seemed quite happy. In fact it was the people on the beach who were in the biggest flap. Everyone was so excited to see the penguin."
Mr Kernaghan went back to the Te Awanga motor camp to let his other daughter, Morgan, know what was happening.
"The camp nearly emptied out as people went to take a look for themselves," he said.
"I've never seen anything like it in 14 years of holidaying here," he said.
Mr Kernaghan's wife, Glenda, said the penguin appeared on the same day holidaymakers had seen orcas swimming in the bay.
"We've seen little blue penguins in the bay before too, but never any penguins on the beach. It was amazing."
Mr Kernaghan contacted the Department of Conservation in Hawke's Bay and was told the penguin would be fine as long as it was left alone.
"It was really happy and beachgoers were able to get up close.
"It only waddled off when it saw a dog coming along the beach and it happily took itself back out to sea," he said.
source
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