Hector's and Maui's dolphins
One of an estimated 110 to 150 Hector's dolphins that die in commercial set nets every year
...an overview
Hector’s and Maui’s dolphins are New Zealand’s national treasures – these beautiful, tiny marine mammals only live in New Zealand’s coastal waters – nowhere else in the world.
The dolphins are among the world’s smallest cetaceans, easily recognised by their distinctive dorsal fin shaped like a Mickey Mouse ear.
Hector’s dolphins (Cephalorhynchus hectori hectori) are found only around New Zealand’s South Island. A subspecies, the Maui’s dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori maui), lives in shallow coastal waters along the North Island’s western shores.
The species name covering both Hector’s and Maui’s is Cephalorhynchus hectori.
Hector’s dolphins (Cephalorhynchus hectori hectori) are found only around New Zealand’s South Island. A subspecies, the Maui’s dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori maui), lives in shallow coastal waters along the North Island’s western shores.
The species name covering both Hector’s and Maui’s is Cephalorhynchus hectori.
Dolphin factsheets
Hector's and Maui's dolphins are found in waters less than 100m deep (red area in map) but are only protected in the green areas on the map.
Dwindling numbers
What makes Hector’s and Maui’s dolphins even more special is that today very few survive.
Hector's are classified as endangered, while Maui's are critically endangered. Maui’s dolphins are the world’s most rare marine cetacean – their entire population is now estimated at less than 70 individuals – on the very edge of extinction.
Scientists estimate that more than 26,000 Hector’s dolphins lived around New Zealand’s shores in the 1970s. Today, it is thought that about 7000 remain – less than one-third of the 1970s’ population.
Scientists estimate that more than 26,000 Hector’s dolphins lived around New Zealand’s shores in the 1970s. Today, it is thought that about 7000 remain – less than one-third of the 1970s’ population.
The numbers of Hector's dolphins have plummeted in the last four decades from 30,000 in the 1970s to about 7,000 today.
Under threat
The biggest threats to Hector’s and Maui’s are set net and trawl fishing.
A 2008 report by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) estimated that 110 to 150 Hector's and Maui's dolphins die in commercial set nets every year.
They are also harmed by boat strikes, pollution and coastal developments which degrade their habitat, and future threats may arise from climate change, overfishing, aquaculture, oil and gas exploration, and offshore ironsands mining.
They are also harmed by boat strikes, pollution and coastal developments which degrade their habitat, and future threats may arise from climate change, overfishing, aquaculture, oil and gas exploration, and offshore ironsands mining.
Get all the facts
Click here for a summary of the IPP by MFish and comments from the WWF-New Zealand marine team.
WWF-New Zealand's campaign
WWF is campaigning for a future where Hector's and Maui's dolphins are no longer threatened with extinction, but thriving throughout their natural range.
Find out more about WWF-New Zealand’s campaign to help protect Hector’s and Maui’s dolphins, and the people involved.
Report any sightings of Maui’s dolphins. The more we learn about where these dolphins live, the better we will be able to protect them.
For more information, read WWF-New Zealand’s campaign fact sheets about Maui’s and Hector’s dolphins.
Report any sightings of Maui’s dolphins. The more we learn about where these dolphins live, the better we will be able to protect them.
For more information, read WWF-New Zealand’s campaign fact sheets about Maui’s and Hector’s dolphins.
Children of Cardinal McKeefry School in 2007 helping WWF ask the New Zealand Government to save dolphins from extinction