Weak prosecution treats dolphins’ lives like they’re worthless
Fine for unreported Hector’s dolphin death reveals toothless system, conservation groups says
Conservation groups says fine for killing dolphins not enough
Black Cat Cruises tour boat capsize and overtourism issues
They’re ours to save: the debate over the vulnerable Hector’s dolphins
Plus other quotes and mentions in news dispatches
Dolphin Defenders take on the US Government in the Court of International Trade
Small charity takes big swing at US Government - RNZ
The lawsuit against the US Government in bid to protect endangered dolphins - bFM
Environmental Law Initiative takes on the government, with our support
The Environmental Law Initiative is challenging the Government’s Threat Management Plan, we were privileged to lend some support in the media below:
Charity takes legal action over government’s failure to protect Hector’s and Māui dolphins
Protection plan for world’s rarest dolphin challenged in court
News from our ‘Protect Hector’s’ advocacy tour 2025
- 25 Jan Committed activists bring dolphin message to Southland
- 30 Jan Campaigner calls for increased dolphin protection
- 2 Feb The Press as part of Kite day reporting with photos
- 6 Feb Dolphin protection group delivers strong message
- 10 Feb Couple raise awareness on plight of Māui and Hector’s dolphins
- 26 Feb Hector’s dolphin tour marred by tragic death
- 7 March Fishing industry hit back at claims
2024 News
- Dolphin protest targets Prime Minister’s electorate office
- The Grim Reaper visits the Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s office
- The Fisheries Minister Shane Jones argues the increase in reported dolphin deaths is no problem
- More context on the deaths of Hector’s and why we went to the PM’s office
- Why is it so hard to save this species? A recent article about the countdown to extinction for Maui Dolphins
- Dolphin Defender Genevieve Robinson asks Canterbury Regional Council to do more
- Drones will be deployed in the efforts to spot Māui dolphins, but only more investment preventing fishing entanglement, toxoplasmosis and other human impacts will save them.
- Sea Shepherd take the fight for protection to the US
- Increased fishing quotas pose more threats to Māui dolphins
- Other threats dolphins are facing - Hector’s dolphins in danger from retired landfill / Colac Bay erosion
Deaths
- Hector’s and Māui dolphin incident database
- Dead Māui’s dolphin discovered to be pregnant
- Māui dolphin found dead on Auckland beach
- Three Hector’s dolphins were killed in a net off the Canterbury coast
- Four endangered Hector’s dolphins caught in fishing trawls
The 2019 Threat Management Plan
- October 2021: A study commissioned by DOC and Fisheries New Zealand reported that there were likely to be 54 Maui dolphins over 1 year old within the survey area, with 95% confidence that the number of dolphins was between 48 and 64.
- June 2021: Hector’s and Māui dolphin Research Strategy 2021 was created to support the vision and goals of the Hector’s and Māui Dolphin Threat Management Plan (TMP).
- November 2020: Changes to five marine mammal sanctuaries and the Kaikoura Whale Sanctuary came into effect on 5 November.
- October 2020: The new measures to restrict commercial and recreational set-net and commercial trawl fishing announced in June 2020 took effect.
More information on the Threat Management Plan
- Threat Management Plan
- Reference and more information (Timeline of protection for Māui and Hector’s dolphins)
- The Draft TMP from MPI
- NZIER: Hector’s and Māui dolphin threat management plan (November 2019)
Government announcements
- Further protect South Island Hector’s dolphins - Have your say. Government consultation closes on December 6th.
- The 2021 Māui dolphin population estimate
- Timeline of protection for Māui and Hector’s dolphins
- Govt announces a $17.1million programme for cameras on boats only in Māui habitat
- Camera programme better for the industry than for Māui and Hector’s
Further reading and references
- Protect Pahu (Hector’s dolphins) from fishing nets petition link
- Hector’s dolphin sightings app is an online tool to act as a portal for citizen science reporting of dolphins around New Zealand.
- DoC – Visit this page for the Māui and Hector’s dolphin sightings database – mortality record, abundance estimate and info on past and proposed Threat Management Plans.
- New Zealand Whale and Dolphin Trust – We work with a range of scientists, including world experts Professor Liz Slooten and Steve Dawson from the University of Otago and the New Zealand Whale and Dolphin Trust.
- Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
