Cetaceans are all species of modern marine mammals that spend their life in the marine environment (and occasionally rivers). Like other mammals, cetaceans are characterised as air-breathing, warm-blooded vertebrates, that feed their young milk produced by the mammary glands of the female.  

Since cetaceans are mammals, they have hair at some point in their life. For example, dolphins have a few whiskers around their snout in the womb and when they are first born but they soon lose them. In the paikea or humpback whale the raised surfaces on their head, mouth and even on their flippers are often hair follicles where a single hair grows. Similar to like a whisker in a cat, it helps the whales be able to sense their environment.

Aotearoa New Zealand has a rich and diverse fauna of whales, porpoises and dolphins. Almost half the world's whales, porpoises and dolphins have been reported in our waters.

In Aotearoa New Zealand we have one endemic cetacean, the Hector's dolphin, meaning it lives and breeds only here. Hector’s dolphins have two recognised sub-species: Hector's dolphin, and Māui's dolphin, which is the name given to the North Island population.

Over 30 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises have been reported in the Otago Region.

Of these species some are found more regularly around the Otago’s coast, including the Hector's dolphin, also called tutumairekurai (special ocean dweller), pahu (bang or boom), and tūpoupou (to bow frequently), with an estimated population of around 40 individuals in the Region. Although maki or orca do not have a confined home patch moving around from season to season, they can potentially be seen year-round. The location where the elusive Shepherd's beaked whale has been seen most regularly globally is the Otago Canyons, off the coast of Ōtepoti Dunedin.

Other species have wide-ranging but distinctly seasonal distributions, including spending time passing through Otago’s water, such as paikea or humpback whales and tohorā or southern right whales. These species currently migrate thousands of kilometres between feeding grounds and calving grounds.

Many of our species are reported only or mainly from dead stranded animals, including beaked whales such as the strap-toothed beaked whale, goose-beaked whale and Andrews’ beaked whale. Aotearoa New Zealand is thought to be a global hotspot for beaked whales, with 13 of the 24 species being found here, and 7 of these were first scientifically described from animals stranded on our shores.

To find out more about whales, dolphins and porpoises in Aotearoa New Zealand, visit the Te Papa Atawhai – Department of Conservation (DOC) websites for information on whales or dolphins. To contribute observation records on whales, dolphins and porpoises to a participatory science platform, visit the iNaturalist platform or use the SeaSpotter app. 

www.orc.govt.nz/whales

www.orc.govt.nz/dolphins