Is there now another one near Christchurch?
...(just to be thorough in the thread, there was a report phoned in early this morning of an emperor penguin on New Brighton beach at Christchurch, on the South Island, but a search of the entire beachline by DoC and City Council found nothing and it is believed to have been a hoax call)
the release location is decided:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/5204600/No-passage-to-Antarctica-for-Happy-Feet
Reading that it seemed really odd that on one hand, they won't send it back to Antarctica because it might carry some disease but on the other hand they are releasing it close enough that it could make its own way back (possibly carrying some disease).
CB
that's right, it does seem that taking it to Antarctica would be in breach of the laws (which is rather a moot point though as the bird would have to stay at the zoo for six months or so before there are any flights or boats going there, and its quite likely it wouldn't survive that long). The subantarctic islands are much closer with more traffic this time of year, so are a more appropriate choice. But it does rather make a nonsense of the disease argument.