The critically endangered Māui dolphin
Take action for the 48 endangered Māui dolphins
Who are the Māui Dolphins?
The Māui dolphin is the world's rarest and smallest known dolphin, found only off the west coast of New Zealand’s North Island. As a subspecies of Hector’s dolphin (found on the South Island of New Zealand), Māui dolphins are genetically and physically distinct. They have a distinct, rounded dorsal fin that resembles Mickey Mouse ears, and are grey, black, and white in colour. Adults typically grow to a length of just 1.5 metres and weigh around 50 kilograms.
Today, fewer than 50 Māui dolphins are estimated to remain, with some estimates suggesting that fewer than 40 breeding adults are left. These dolphins inhabit shallow coastal waters, typically less than 20 metres deep, in a small range between Maunganui Bluff and Whanganui. They live in small pods, use echolocation to hunt for fish and squid, and can live for more than 20 years. However, their reproductive rate is very slow with females only give birth every 2 to 4 years, meaning their population grows by no more than 2% annually, even under ideal conditions.
These dolphins hold significant cultural value, known as popoto in Māori, they are named after the Polynesian demigod Māui. Their survival represents the broader health of New Zealand’s coastal ecosystems and reflects our collective ability to protect marine biodiversity.
Why are they endangered?
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Māui dolphins are listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN and Nationally Critical within New Zealand. Their most immediate threat is accidental entanglement in commercial set nets and trawl nets. Even a single death from bycatch can have a devastating impact on such a fragile population. Additional threats include water pollution, vessel traffic, oil and gas exploration, noise pollution, and diseases like toxoplasmosis and brucellosis.
Conservation efforts are ongoing. These include government-imposed fishing restrictions, marine spatial protections, research and monitoring programs, and public awareness campaigns. Still, scientists and conservationists continue to call for stronger protections and wider net bans to give Māui dolphins a fighting chance at recovery.
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Peggy, this could be a nice section for us to highlight your advocacy for the Māui dolphins over the years and for us to add the video and photos
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