Tawaki (Fiordland Crested Penguins) are nesting right next to the Foveaux Walkway. If your dog is off leash, it will smell the penguins and will investigate.
At best, your dog will scare the parents away from the nest. At worst, your dog will kill or maim the penguins.
Almost every owner whose dog has killed penguins has been utterly horrified. “I was sure my dog wouldn’t kill anything – she’s such a lovely girl”.
If your dog plays with a toy by shaking it, this is exactly what they do to a penguin… They just think it’s a toy. But the penguin will die. Do you really want that on your conscience?
Please, please, please keep your dog on leash on the walkway.