Hector's and Maui's campaign
Hector's dolphin, South Island, New Zealand
The WWF campaign to save Hector's and Maui's dolphins
Our aim is a secure future for Maui’s and Hector’s dolphins, where their numbers begin to increase and recover to their natural traditional range, free of threats from human actions.
Saving the species is about tackling the problem from every angle. That means our dolphin campaign is multi-faceted. We work with communities and schools, researchers and government. And we’re beginning to work with fishers.
Working with communities and schools
Because Maui’s and Hector’s dolphins are such an engaging topic for students, WWF-New Zealand offers curriculum-linked resources for teachers and their students. The aim is to support schools as they engage with their communities to address issues surrounding Maui’s and Hector’s dolphins in their local area.
Find out about how we support schools.
Working with young New Zealanders
The short film, Take Action for Maui’s, by students of Te Huruhi Primary School and WWF-New Zealand shows how inspired children are by the idea of conservation.
Massey University graduate Julie Holmes produced a short animation film telling the story of Maui's dolphins plight, voiced by young New Zealanders. Click here to watch the Maui's dolphin animation film.
You too can get involved in WWF-New Zealand’s campaign to save Maui’s dolphin in several ways:
Become informed - check out our Hector’s and Maui’s factsheets
Take action:
Supporting research
After more than 20 years of research, we know much more about Hector’s and Maui’s dolphins than most other dolphin species. As at March 2008, for Hector’s and Maui’s, there were:
WWF-New Zealand has supported a range of research, including:
Working with Government
WWF calls for the Minister for Primary Industries (which includes fisheries) and Minister of Conservation to manage the dolphins so their survival is ensured for future generations. Actions that WWF-New Zealand is asking the Government to take include:
Working with communities and schools
Because Maui’s and Hector’s dolphins are such an engaging topic for students, WWF-New Zealand offers curriculum-linked resources for teachers and their students. The aim is to support schools as they engage with their communities to address issues surrounding Maui’s and Hector’s dolphins in their local area.
Find out about how we support schools.
Working with young New Zealanders
The short film, Take Action for Maui’s, by students of Te Huruhi Primary School and WWF-New Zealand shows how inspired children are by the idea of conservation.
Massey University graduate Julie Holmes produced a short animation film telling the story of Maui's dolphins plight, voiced by young New Zealanders. Click here to watch the Maui's dolphin animation film.
You too can get involved in WWF-New Zealand’s campaign to save Maui’s dolphin in several ways:
Become informed - check out our Hector’s and Maui’s factsheets
Take action:
- Visit WWF's Stop their Extinction campaign site and send an e-card to the Ministers of Fisheries and Conservation asking them for full protection for Maui’s dolphins.
- Support our work: donate money or Adopt a dolphin
- Find out more about WWF-New Zealand’s dolphin education programme.
Supporting research
After more than 20 years of research, we know much more about Hector’s and Maui’s dolphins than most other dolphin species. As at March 2008, for Hector’s and Maui’s, there were:
- 77 peer reviewed published papers in scientific journals
- 13 Masters theses
- 9 Doctorate theses
- 43 departmental reports
- 8 unpublished papers
- 7 sections in books
WWF-New Zealand has supported a range of research, including:
- Population surveys of Akaroa dolphin populations
- Auckland University research using genetics to obtain an estimate of population size and alongshore distribution
- Studies on distribution of Maui’s dolphins to determine how far offshore they go, and to assess the overlap between dolphin habitat and current trawl fishing grounds
- A public sightings network to gather information to help us learn more about the distribution and behaviour of Maui’s dolphins - where they go, how far offshore they move, to what extent they use west coast harbours and how far north and south they move. Data generated by public reported sightings is a very important tool to help answer those questions. And we encourage the Government to consider sightings information and research findings when making decisions
- Financial support for a range of community-initiated events and actions, including the Raglan Maui's Dolphin Day and the Mountains to Sea/Ki Uta ki Tai surf and skate event in Auckland.
Working with Government
WWF calls for the Minister for Primary Industries (which includes fisheries) and Minister of Conservation to manage the dolphins so their survival is ensured for future generations. Actions that WWF-New Zealand is asking the Government to take include:
- regulating fishing to achieve zero by-catch of Maui’s and Hector’s dolphins
- implementing an action plan that will lead to the recovery of the dolphins and addresses threats beyond fishing
- investing in research that will contribute to improved management of the species
Help ensure the dolphins’ survival
Take action:
Learn what you can do right now!
Visit WWF-New Zealand’s "Stop their Extinction" campaign website or facebook page.
Report any sightings of Maui’s dolphins. Call 0800 4 MAUIS. The more information we have of these dolphin's entire range, the better we will be able to protect them.
Adopt a Hector's dolphin and support our work to protect Hector’s and Maui’s dolphins.
Visit WWF-New Zealand’s "Stop their Extinction" campaign website or facebook page.
Report any sightings of Maui’s dolphins. Call 0800 4 MAUIS. The more information we have of these dolphin's entire range, the better we will be able to protect them.
Adopt a Hector's dolphin and support our work to protect Hector’s and Maui’s dolphins.
Summary of all WWF Maui's public sightings
Click on the map above to find out more!
WWF at work
Learn more about WWF's dolphin conservation work.
Hector's and Maui's dolphins are found in waters less than 100m deep (red area in map) but are only protected in the green areas on the map.
New Zealand Whale and Dolphin Trust
The New Zealand Whale and Dolphin Trust was launched in 1992 by researchers Associate Professors Liz Slooten and Steve Dawson, along with Trust Patron Sir Geoffrey Palmer to foster research and effective conservation of whales and dolphins in New Zealand.
The Trust’s long-term goal is:
"To enhance the current knowledge of the ecology, distribution and conservation of New Zealand's whales and dolphins and help ensure informed, science-based management decisions".
They also have a facebook page.
The Trust’s long-term goal is:
"To enhance the current knowledge of the ecology, distribution and conservation of New Zealand's whales and dolphins and help ensure informed, science-based management decisions".
They also have a facebook page.
Kiwis Against Seabed Mining
Kiwis Against Seabed Mining (KASM) is a community-based action group strongly opposed to any nonessential seabed mining.
Its objectives are to raise public awareness of current mining proposals which could affect the habitat of Maui’s dolphins.
KASM wants to ensure current and future governments stop considering these and any future seabed mining operations.
KASM describe themselves as a non-political, non-profit organisation, funded by subscriptions and local donations whose opinions reflect wider public sentiment.
Its objectives are to raise public awareness of current mining proposals which could affect the habitat of Maui’s dolphins.
KASM wants to ensure current and future governments stop considering these and any future seabed mining operations.
KASM describe themselves as a non-political, non-profit organisation, funded by subscriptions and local donations whose opinions reflect wider public sentiment.