L
ICONS OF THE GULF
NGĀ MANATUNGA O TĪKAPA MOANA / TE MOANA-NUI-A-TOI
iving alongside ocean-dwelling mammals makes
our residency in and around the Hauraki Gulf
Marine Park very special.
WHALES & DOLPHINS
The environments of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park are iconic. Special
status recognises unique qualities and our responsibilities for protection
and enhancement.
He manatunga te taiao o Te Papa Taimoana o Tīkapa Moana / Te Moananui-a-Toi. Kua whakatairangatia ōna ritenga motuhake me te meinga
mā tātou e tiaki e whakapai ake.
The shallow, diverse and highly productive waters of the Hauraki Gulf
Marine Park are home to resident whales and dolphins. Recent studies
show that each species has a favourite part of the Gulf ecosystem.
Ko ngā wai tai pāpaku, whakaehu me te māpua o te Papa Rehua o Tīkapa
Moana te wāhi noho o ngā tohorā me ngā aihe kua whakakāinga i a ia.
Ka whakaatuhia mā te rangahau nō inatata nei, tō ia momo he tino wāhi
o te rauiringa taiao o Tīkapa Moana.
Cetaceans – the order of whales, dolphins and porpoises
– have evolved unique characteristics and behaviours
enabling them to thrive in marine environments.
Of the 88 species found around the world, 22 have been
recorded in the Gulf, many while passing through on
their migratory or foraging journeys.
Bryde’s whales sieve plankton and small
fish through baleen plates in their large
mouths. Tagging some of the resident
whales has revealed they spend over 90
percent of the time in the top 12 metres
of the water, making them vulnerable to
ship strike. As a result large vessels now
plan to transit the Gulf at 10 knots, an
internationally-recognised target speed for
safe travel around whales.
BOTTLENOSE
DOLPHIN,
TEREHU
Killer whales are toothed whales often found in family
pods. They can live to similar ages as humans with
members from several generations in the pod. They
hunt fish, sharks, rays, and occasionally other cetaceans.
They can be seen in shallow waters, sometimes into the
Waitematā harbour.
KILLER
WHALE,
KĀKAHI
COMMON
DOLPHIN,
AIHE
Wheeling flocks of diving gannets are a good sign that
common dolphins are around. These sleek, fast, creamflanked dolphins often divert their attention from
herding schooling fish to bow-ride vessels plying midGulf waters.
Frequent, repeat sightings of bottlenose dolphins within
two kilometres of the western bays of Great Barrier
Island suggest this is a stronghold for the northern NZ
population. Usually seen in groups of around a dozen
– or more than 40 during spring and summer – they
can exhibit playful leaping and vocal exchanges. They
range around the Gulf and throughout our northeastern
waters.
The earliest navigators to Aotearoa would have had the
company of many whales. Their abundance drew the
first European settlers, with shore-based stations and
over 200 whaling ships operating here in the 1820s. The
last whaling station at Whangaparapara on Great Barrier
Island closed in 1962 with a national moratorium on
whaling. Today sightings of whales and dolphins inspire
awe; a reminder of the wonder of the Hauraki Gulf
Marine Park.
KNOW YOUR NEIGHBOURS:
Length Weight
(Metres) (Kilos)
BRYDE’S WHALE,
PAKAKĒ
The killer whale’s home range extends beyond the
Gulf, but pods of 5-15 are frequently seen close to
beaches hunting for favoured fish and rays.
PRODUCED BY
Gulf-resident Bryde’s whales number around 60,
mixing with a broader population of 150 animals.
They favour mid-Gulf waters and are often
associated with plankton aggregations.
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
The common dolphin favours the deeper waters
of the central Gulf with several thousand animals
often in the area. Pods with hundreds of animals
can be associated with work-ups of schooling fish.
SPONSORED BY
PROJECT DIRECTION AND TEXT: TIM HIGHAM, ART: DAVE GUNSON, DESIGN: SHAUN LEE, SCIENCE ADVICE: DR ROCHELLE CONSTANTINE, UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND
Bottlenose dolphins are mainly seen in pods of
a dozen or more, particularly in inshore waters
close to Great Barrier Island. The population is
estimated at around 300 individuals that range
along our north-eastern coast.
15
25,000
Bryde’s whale
10
6,000
Killer whale
3.5
500
Bottlenose dolphin
2.5
150
Common dolphin
1.7
80
Scuba diver
It is important to respect the social space of whales and
dolphins. Do not disrupt normal behaviour, and travel
at idle or ‘no wake’ speed when within 300m of them.
Approach from behind and to the side and avoid close
contact with whales, particularly those with calves.
Notify the Department of Conservation if you see any
dead or injured marine mammals (0800DOCHOT).