Māui and Hector’s Dolphin Defenders
  • What we do
    • Our objectives
    • Our campaigns
    • Meet the committee
    • Events and school visits
    • About Māui and Hector's dolphins
    • Mortality tracker
  • Take action
    • Protect Hector's from the fishing industry
    • ECan: Protect Hector’s Dolphins through your Regional Plan
  • Blog
  • In the news
  • Fact files
  • Contact
  • Donate
Photo: Rob Pine

Māui and Hector’s dolphins are among the world’s rarest marine dolphins

They were once the most abundant dolphins around our coasts – now they are endangered species. Find out more...

Find out more
Photo: Rob Pine

We’ve been advocating for Māui and Hector’s dolphins for decades

We have run many campaigns, successfully getting more protection for our threatened dolphin species. More about what we do...

More about what we do

Too many dolphins are dying

Join us in taking action to protect Māui and Hector’s dolphins. Take action now...

Take action now

Māui and Hector’s dolphins need stronger protection

Māui and Hector’s Dolphin Defenders is a non-profit Incorporated Society dedicated to the protection, preservation and recovery of the Aotearoa dolphin, throughout their range.

Fishing industry bycatch is the dolphins’ biggest threat. The Department of Conservation Māui and Hector’s dolphin Incident Database shows that where cause of death is known, the majority of deaths are caused by entanglement in fishing nets.

Explore our website to find out more about us and our history, learn about our unique dolphin species, keep up to date with blog posts and relevant news articles, and join us in taking action to improve the health and protection of Māui and Hector’s dolphins. Donations are gratefully received.

Take action

Protect Hector’s from the fishing industry

Sign the petition

Take action

ECan: Protect Hector’s Dolphins through your Regional Plan

Sign the petition

Extinction Watch Mortality Tracker

Our live dashboard that keeps a count of dolphin deaths and the cause of death in an up to date tally.

Reported Māui and Hector’s Dolphin deaths

More about the mortality tracker...

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Website by RS • © 2025 Māui and Hector’s Dolphin Defenders

  • Home
  • What we do
    • Our objectives
    • Our campaigns
    • Meet the committee
    • Events and school visits
    • About Māui and Hector's dolphins
    • Mortality tracker
  • Take action
    • Protect Hector's from the fishing industry
    • ECan: Protect Hector’s Dolphins through your Regional Plan
  • Blog
  • In the news
  • Fact files
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Facebook
  • YouTube