We call on the NZ Government to honour its promises to protect Hector’s and Māui  dolphins.

Hector’s and Māui dolphins, Pahu* are taonga. They are treasures indigenous to Aotearoa. They live in whānau (family) and hapū (extended family) groups. Every individual is precious to their pod.

The species used to be the most common dolphin seen in coastal waters. Around 40,000 Hector’s dolphins have been caught by fishing nets since the 1970s. When dolphins are caught in nets, they panic and drown with immense suffering. Dead dolphins have been found with rake marks on them, from other dolphins trying to rescue them.

Many local populations have less than 50 individuals and are critically endangered like Māui dolphins.

All local populations of Hector’s need to be considered all around the South Island including Marlborough Sounds, all along the West Coast and the East Coast of the North Island – these areas are currently excluded from further protection measures.

Dolphin deaths need to be stopped now. This is essential to:

-  enable Hector’s dolphins to recover

-  restore the mauri (life-force) and wairua (spirit) of coastal ecosystems

-  and repair public confidence in the NZ fishing industry and the Ministry for Primary Industries

The NZ Government should financially support the fishing industry to transition to more selective, sustainable methods that don’t catch dolphins. This would also solve the bycatch problems of so many other protected species – sea lions, seabirds, penguins, other dolphins – and stop wasting many tonnes of fish.

In the meantime, cameras are essential for all inshore set net and trawl vessels, with independent and transparent monitoring that detects all dolphin bycatch.

Ngā mihi nui.

*Hector’s dolphins have a multitude of indigenous names. Pahu is one of them.

This petition is endorsed by all these organisations:

Māui & Hector's Dolphin Defenders, Sea Shepherd NZ, NZ Whale & Dolphin Trust, Greenpeace NZ, New Zealanders for Endangered Wildlife, E-Ko Cruises – Marlborough Sounds,
Black Cat Cruises – Banks Peninsula,
ECO - Environmental and Conservation Organisations NZ,
Sylvia Earle’s Mission Blue - Hope Spot,
The Pod - Saving Māui and Hector's Dolphins,
Society for the Conservation of Marine Mammals, Aotearoa Dolphin, 
MEER e.V,
Fremantle Underwater Film Festival,
Oceanic Preservation Society,
Whale Man,
Save the Whales Again,
Guardians of Kapiti Marine Reserve Trust,
Cetacean Society International,
Center for Biological Diversity,
Surfbreak Protection Society,
Black Phins