Currently the Maui dolphin a sub-species of the hector's dolphin is critically endangered. According to some estimates there is only 55 left in existence and some estimate even lower. Despite this the New Zealand government has backed down after lobbying from companies such as Trans-Tasman Resources which due to government law changes now plan to mine 50 million tonnes of seabed material. There is no way that the dolphin population can survive that amount of destruction to there environment, deep sea mining can cause loud noises which scare away their prey and destroy their habitat. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) has also recommended banning gillnets and trawling from Maunganui Bluff to Whanganui, out to 20 nautical miles offshore. However despite international attention the New Zealand has refused to take notice. 

These dolphins are 10-20 years away from extinction. New Zealanders do we want to be remembered as the only country who allowed a marine dolphin to become extinct?