The eye-catching, hand-folded origami dolphin exhibit travelled to Waikato after being on display since October at Wellington's Te Papa.
The Raglan community hopes the exhibit will send a powerful message to stop the extinction of Maui’s, and ensure the next generation of children will still be able to see the dolphins in the ocean, and not as a relic in a museum:
“We are very worried about the decreasing numbers of Maui’s dolphins – there are only 111 left. Our home, Whaingaroa, is also home to the Maui’s dolphin. They are a local taonga, and we see ourselves as their kaitiakitanga,” said Raglan Area School’s head boy Whirinaki Maniapoto-Waitere.
The Raglan community was inspired by surfer Peggy Oki, who visited Raglan each year since 2007 during Maui’s dolphin day. A committed conservationist, Oki was deeply concerned to learn that Maui’s dolphins were on the brink of extinction, and told the local community of the Japanese legend that says if you fold 1000 paper cranes the gods will grant your wish, and of her own 1400 origami whales project to protest commercial whaling.
The community immediately got behind the idea as a way of sending their conservation wish. With Peggy Oki’s help, they made 1000 so their wish would be granted, and also to represent how there were many more dolphins before the 1970s; and the extra 111 to remind people of how few Maui’s dolphins are now estimated left.
WWF New Zealand Maui education coordinator Victoria Travers said "Curtain of 1,111 Origami Maui Dolphins is “a beautiful and inspiring exhibition that sends a powerful message about a national conservation emergency”.
“We are seeing a groundswell of community action across New Zealand from people like the community of Raglan who want Maui’s dolphins to recover their numbers. Maui’s are facing a very uncertain future but the commitment and sense of guardianship of the Raglan community for dolphins gives us great hope for the survival of the species,” she said.
Waikato Museum director Kate Vusoniwailala said the fact the exhibition has such strong local ties and a powerful message behind it makes it a “must see”.
“I hope everyone will take the opportunity to view the exhibition and absorb the message that the Raglan community is trying to put across with these works of art,” she said.
The exhibition will be on display in Waikato Museum's U-Zone until 28 February.
