All the ways you can help protect the Hector's dolphins from joining the Protect Hector's team to enrolling in our education programme

Become an official ‘Protect Hector’s Team Member’ and support New Zealand’s endangered and endemic dolphin

Find out about our school education programme which includes a nine week lesson plan for both students and teachers

HECTOR'S AND MAUI DOLPHIN THREAT MANAGEMENT PLAN ROADMAP

Threat Management Plan Hectors and Maui Dolphins

Help Protect The Hector’s Dolphins

In 2019 we worked with partners like the New Zealand Whale and Dolphin Trust and many others to try to convince the NZ government to extend protection for our native dolphin. We even enlisted the help of our customers who sent over 13,000 postcards to the Prime Minister pleading for help for the dolphins. Great work!

The government’s response was the ’Threat Management Plan’ released in 2020. It outlines some further fishing restrictions and other measures to help the dolphin population recover. You can find out more about the plan here. But we don’t think it goes far enough, and we are continuing to advocate for further protection around Banks Peninsula especially for a ban of set netting which is by far the biggest threat to the dolphins.

Our customers helped us to make a submission before December 2021 using this simple template.

Hector’s Dolphin Threat Management Plan - What You Need to Know

The Facts

2,000

Hector’s Dolphins in and
around Banks Peninsula

10k

Hector’s Dolphins
in New Zealand

45%

of people rate dolphins as an
important factor in deciding to visit New Zealand

43

estimated Hector’s Dolphins’ deaths from set nets on the South Island’s east coast per year

$24.5M

economic impact generated by nature tourism in Akaroa

5

Hector’s Dolphins caught by one set of nets off Banks Peninsula in 2018

100M

of proposed protection depth around
New Zealand Coasts

476

jobs attributed to working with Hector’s Dolphins created in New Zealand

75k

tourists will see Hector’s Dolphins in Akaroa in 2023

64%

of people rated dolphins as important in their decision to visit Christchurch

4

nautical miles of offshore protection for Hector’s Dolphins at Banks Peninsula Marine Mammal Sanctuary

1.5m

Is the length of a full-grown Hector’s Dolphin; among the smallest of all dolphins

Conservation is part of our DNA and protecting our special dolphins is just part of who we are. We continue to work with partners and the community to advocate for further protection of our rare native dolphin

Did you know it’s estimated the Akaroa Hector’s dolphin industry generates $24.5M a year in direct and indirect revenue with $19.5M of that for Canterbury alone? This equates to 476 jobs (419 in Canterbury) The dolphins are an essential attraction in Akaroa and bring vital tourism dollars to the region. Over $100M in the last 4 years. We commissioned an Economic Impact Assessment which you can find here.

DOWNLOAD THE HECTOR’S DOLPHIN TOURISM ECONOMIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Organisations supporting better protection for hector's & Maui dolphins

BLACK CAT CRUISES, TOURISM INDUSTRY AOTEAROA, CHRISTCHURCHNZ, DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION, WWF NEW ZEALAND, ICUN, GREENPEACE NZ, NZ WHALE AND DOLPHIN TRUST, INTERNATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION, NABU INTERNATIONAL, WHALE AND DOLPHIN CONSERVATION, SEA SHEPHERD NZ, MAUI AND HECTOR’S DOLPHINS DEFENDERS, MISSION BLUE HOPE SPOT, WORLD ANIMAL PROTECTION, BANKS PENINSULA CONSERVATION TRUST, WORLD CETACEAN ALLIANCE, HECTOR’S PROTECTORS, BLACK PHINS, EARTH RACE, PROJECT JONAH NZ, PEOPLE FOR NATURE AND PEACE, GUARDIANS OF THE SOUND, OUR SEAS OUR FUTURE, REAL JOURNEYS, WHALE WATCH, DOLPHIN ENCOUNTER, POHATU PENGUINS, E-KO TOURS, COAST UP CLOSE, AKAROA DOLPHINS, ANNADALE, FOX2 SAILING ADVENTURES LTD, ROAD TRIPPERS, CAMPERMATE, YHA NEW ZEALAND, BACKPACKER YOUTH AND ADVENTURE TOURISM ASSOCIATION, PELORUS MAIL BOAT LTD, AKAROA DISTRICT PROMOTIONS, IDNZ, NEW ZEALAND CRUISE ASSOCIATION, CANTERBURY LEISURE TOURS, HAKA TOURS, HASSLE FREE TOURS, VISITOR POINT, CANTERBURY TRAILS, BACKPACKER AND ADVENTURE TOURISM CHRISTCHURCH, AA TOURISM