Pohatu Penguins is a family-run business with a long-standing history of protecting the Korora (Little Penguin) in Pohatu bay on the family farm. When Shireen and Francis Helps first began their conservation work the penguins faced massive challenges that threatened their very existence. Through predator trapping, monitoring, penguin rehabilitation and creating awareness over the years the Pohatu penguin colony stabilized – and it has grown over time to become the largest colony of Little penguins on mainland New Zealand. In addition to their penguin conservation efforts the Helps family has also for many years protected native forests and other endemic species and were part of the group that has advocated for Pohatu bay to become a marine reserve. Their dedication is an inspiring example of what can be achieved by grass roots conservation efforts. The couple has won many awards for their work in penguin and habitat conservation and also helped found the award-winning Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust and Wildside Project.