New heights for Hector’s dolphins
We hope you’re having a happy summer. We are buoyed by the ongoing reports of newborn dolphins around the motu. There have been at least three seen in Queen Charlotte Sound for example, and from a population of only 30-40, that makes a difference.
Our team - Rob and Nikki, were in action at the heart of the Sounds on Saturday 17 January, at the Picton Maritime Festival. They’ve probably seen the QCS Hector’s more than anyone else - so they certainly feel, and shared the love, as well as stickers and fliers.
Experienced dolphin advocate and educator, Nikki at the Picton Maritime Festival Photo: Rob Pine
The following day, Sunday 18, Rob was supporting the dolphins at the Nelson Kite Festival. He was there to raise awareness of the 300 hundred or so Hector’s dolphins in Tasman-Golden bay, though the wind was so bad, many kites couldn’t fly, including our new 4m Hector’s dolphin kite. Some people deny they exist at all, while others say they’d shoot them if they saw them. We say every dolphin life matters, and they all need more protection, especially from trawlers, because in that area there is none at all.
Girls at Nelson Kite day Photo: Rob Pine
We also had a team at the New Brighton Kite Day in Christchurch on Saturday 24th January, where our volunteers battled the elements which also kept most kites from flying, to engage the public and hear their concerns about trawling, and their love of dolphins.
We hope our dolphin will take to the skies at the Lake Hood-Ashburton Kite Day on Waitangi Day, 6 Feb. Our ground teams will be talking dolphins in areas where they’re found.
We’re still looking for helpers for the Caroline Bay Kite Festival in Timaru on the 15 February, so let us know if you can help.
It’s not just fun and games though. Over summer we lodged a new claim with the US Court of International Trade against the US Government.
You might remember, we won a similar case in August last year. The Court ruled that the US Government’s decision to allow fish imports from New Zealand’s west coast set net and trawl fisheries - endangering Māui dolphins, was arbitrary and capricious, and against the US Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).
But just days later, the US Government allowed all fish exports from NZ to the US, based on NZ Government claims that bycatch of Māui, and Hector’s dolphins, and other NZ marine mammals, is sustainable. There is no evidence that this is true.
So Māui and Hector’s Dolphin Defenders, our small grass-roots organisation, is taking on the US Government once again.
We believe the case for Māui and Hector’s is even stronger, because so many more (too many) Hector’s dolphins are being killed by the fishing industry - at least 23 since the roll out of cameras began in October 2023.
We do all this work with your support. Thanks to all of you for signing our petitions, for your emails and for your donations. We’re just a tiny charity, and we couldn’t do it without you.
You can support us here, and monthly donations by automatic payment are always welcome. Thanks again to those of you who already do.
May the sun shine on you, and our beautiful dolphins.
Posted: 30 January 2026