Gemma is helping protect Hector's and Maui's.
It’s a broad role that takes her to classrooms, community halls and marae throughout the South Island, encouraging people to learn about the dolphins and take action to help protect local populations.
Gemma brings a wealth of experience to the role. She is the driving force behind Music 4 Maui’s, a Kiwi music CD devoted to raising awareness and funds to help protect Maui’s and Hector’s dolphins. Well-known musicians gave their tracks for free to help promote the dolphins’ plight, including The Black Seeds, Don McGlashan, Fur Patrol, Ragamuffin Children, Minuit, Pitch Black and Ariana Tikao. More compilation albums are planned and proceeds from sales go to the New Zealand Whale and Dolphin Trust. Founded by Liz Slooten and Steve Dawson, the Trust raises awareness, funds research and pursues legislation to protect the endangered dolphins.
The seeds for Gemma’s passion for Maui’s and Hector’s dolphins were sown during Gemma’s seven years as a guide on the Kaikoura Whalewatch boats. ‘When I first began, we could see Hector’s dolphins nearly every tour. Nowadays you have to be very lucky to see one. I got so worried about the dolphins. I knew they were in big trouble and someone had to do something.’
Her concern spurred her to earn a degree in zoology from the University of Otago, along with a Masters in Science for Communication. Both are valuable assets in her co-ordinator’s role with WWF-New Zealand.
While Gemma’s ambition is to ensure all whales and dolphins are protected in New Zealand waters, she has long term plans to take on Japan and the whaling issue. ‘We have to look after our own back yard first or Japan will not take us seriously. As soon as our own dolphins are in a safer position, we can focus on creative ways to bring about conscious change in Japan. When I’m a grandma sitting in my rocking chair overlooking the oceans, I want to see our whales have returned, to live and breed in our bays. They belong here and there is hope they will return.’
Gemma also wants to develop research programmes where people can go out on the boat and be involved in observing whales and dolphins and collecting data. She has also researched the fragmented history of indigenous people’s relationship with whales and dolphins, before whaling came to New Zealand’s shores, and hopes to publish this important knowledge some day soon.
Gemma brings a wealth of experience to the role. She is the driving force behind Music 4 Maui’s, a Kiwi music CD devoted to raising awareness and funds to help protect Maui’s and Hector’s dolphins. Well-known musicians gave their tracks for free to help promote the dolphins’ plight, including The Black Seeds, Don McGlashan, Fur Patrol, Ragamuffin Children, Minuit, Pitch Black and Ariana Tikao. More compilation albums are planned and proceeds from sales go to the New Zealand Whale and Dolphin Trust. Founded by Liz Slooten and Steve Dawson, the Trust raises awareness, funds research and pursues legislation to protect the endangered dolphins.
The seeds for Gemma’s passion for Maui’s and Hector’s dolphins were sown during Gemma’s seven years as a guide on the Kaikoura Whalewatch boats. ‘When I first began, we could see Hector’s dolphins nearly every tour. Nowadays you have to be very lucky to see one. I got so worried about the dolphins. I knew they were in big trouble and someone had to do something.’
Her concern spurred her to earn a degree in zoology from the University of Otago, along with a Masters in Science for Communication. Both are valuable assets in her co-ordinator’s role with WWF-New Zealand.
While Gemma’s ambition is to ensure all whales and dolphins are protected in New Zealand waters, she has long term plans to take on Japan and the whaling issue. ‘We have to look after our own back yard first or Japan will not take us seriously. As soon as our own dolphins are in a safer position, we can focus on creative ways to bring about conscious change in Japan. When I’m a grandma sitting in my rocking chair overlooking the oceans, I want to see our whales have returned, to live and breed in our bays. They belong here and there is hope they will return.’
Gemma also wants to develop research programmes where people can go out on the boat and be involved in observing whales and dolphins and collecting data. She has also researched the fragmented history of indigenous people’s relationship with whales and dolphins, before whaling came to New Zealand’s shores, and hopes to publish this important knowledge some day soon.
