Brewing support for conservation: Emerson’s backs the Hoiho
In 2024, Emerson’s brewery joined forces with local organisations to support one of New Zealand’s endangered native birds.
The Bird of the Year is now also the Bird with a Beer. In 2024, as part of the annual Forest & Bird, Bird of the Year competition, Dunedin-based Emerson’s brewery, joined forces with a coalition of local organisations to support one of New Zealand’s endangered native birds—the Hoiho (Yellow-eyed penguin).
Emerson’s created the People’s Penguin NZ Pale Ale a limited release beer as a creative way to rally support and raise funds for conservation efforts. To spread the word, Emerson’s partnered with major media company NZME and their networked radio station The Hits for a small but impactful advertising campaign.
The campaign was a great success — not only did it engage the public in conservation, the Hoiho ultimately won Bird of the Year 2024.
In addition to the campaign support, Emerson’s donated its Taproom as a venue for the Trust to host a quiz night, further raising awareness and funds for conservation efforts, and made a $1,000 donation to The Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust.
Emerson’s passion for supporting local wildlife is ongoing and the team is already looking ahead to this year’s competition, aiming for a back-to-back victory.