New Zealand Whale and Dolphin Trust

09/03/2026

Yet another oil spill in Akaroa Harbour! Worse this time, because it's a worse pollutant and further into the harbour.

Up to 300 litres of lubricating oil leaked from HMNZS Te Kaha, with Environment Canterbury monitoring the clean‑up and warning the public to avoid affected areas.

15/01/2026

Excellent interview with Christine Rose from Maui and Hector's Dolphin Defenders. This is a super quick way to find out what's going on!

Māui and Hector’s Dolphin Defenders, a small New Zealand charity, has launched another court case against the United States government at the Court of International Trade. The organisation already won a case at the Court last year against the US government’s decision to allow fish imports from ...

14/01/2026

Check it out on the RNZ web page!

14/01/2026

Great to see Maui and Hector's Dolphin Defenders continuing to encourage New Zealand to protect its very own dolphin!

New Zealand / Environment Small NZ charity takes big swing at US government in bid to protect endangered dolphins 05:52 am on 15 January 2026 Share this Keiller MacDuff, Senior reporter [email protected] Māui dolphin. Photo: Department of Conservation / supplied A David and Goliath case is ...

21/12/2025

Excellent photos from Jochen Zaeschmar, whale and dolphin scientist. He saw the Hector's / Maui dolphin in English Bay near Opua (Bay of Islands).

19/11/2025

Two of our trustees received a Blake Award for their lifelong commitment to marine mammal science and conservation! As they say, it takes a village. So we would like to acknowledge the whole team, including: Liz Slooten, Steve Dawson, Will Rayment, Will Carome, Isabel Beasley, Lars Bejder, Sam du Fresne, Eduardo Secchi, Stephanie Burkhart, Andrew Gormley, Erin Green, Elanor Miller, Manue Martinez, Carron Chessum, Olaf Jake, Lesley Douglas, Quin Rhinelander, Chris Richter, F***y Lariviere, Miranda van der Linde, Brian Miller, Abe Growcott, Tamlyn Somerford, Toby Dickson, Jen Turek, Tom Brough, Jesu Valdes, Eva Leunissen, Will Carome, Max Harvey, Hannah Williams, Lindsay Wickman, Steph Bennington, Rose Ursem, Jami Williams, Karsten Schneider, Patti Haase, David Lusseau, Susan Mærsk-Lusseau, Riley Elliot, Lucy Rowe, Shaun Henderson, Marta Guerra, Steph Bennington, Chloe Corne, Leah Crowe, Trudi Webster, Anthony Davidson, David Johnston, Chris Fitzpatrick, Daryl Coup, Steve Bradley, Christine Rose, Gemma McGrath, Tim Ragen, Natalie Barefoot, Brett Sommermeyer, Sabrina Devereaux, Chris Eaton, Catherine Pruett, Scott Myers, Jacob Nabe-Nielsen and countless volunteers. Apologies in advance for anyone missed!

Partners in life and in science, Steve Dawson and Liz Slooten have made immense collective contributions to marine mammal biology and conservation over a lif...

07/09/2025

Another one of Bruce Mahalski's excellent cartoons!

26/08/2025

Click on the link below to see the actual court decision.

26/08/2025

Wonderful news! The judge in the US court case has decided in favour of Maui and Hector's dolphins. This is likely to lead to another ban on the export of fish to the US, if the fish was caught in Māui dolphin habitat using fishing methods known to kill dolphins (gill nets and trawling).

03/08/2025

This young dolphin will be very happy to be rid of the fishing net it has been towing around! Looks like it's done a fair bit of damage to its snout and tailstock.

The dolphin calf was first spotted entangled in the fishing net in mid-June.

24/07/2025

Another example of a corrupt observer programme.

A former fisheries observer, who spent 12 days in fear for his life after turning down a bribe, believes cameras need to be put on deep sea vessels to avoid a repeat. Andrew Bevin investigates.