Forty-nine penguins which were rescued from an oil spill off the coast of New Zealand in October have been set free after being cleaned and nursed back to health by wildlife officials.





One young boy watched the penguins being released and says he was delighted to see them running down the beach and into the water.

“It was really awesome, and I liked that they managed to get out into the sea, I hope they all survive,”

The penguins are among 343 little blue penguins that have been cleaned since a cargo ship ran aground on a reef in early October, spilling 400 tonnes of oil.