Story: Dolphins

Distribution of Hector’s and Māui’s dolphins

Distribution of Hector’s and Māui’s dolphins

Hector’s dolphins are found along the east coast of the South Island, from South Canterbury to Marlborough and Tasman Bay. They are found down the West Coast to Jackson Bay, and have also been sighted in Fiordland. On the south coast, two bays east and west of Invercargill have Hector’s dolphins. Māui’s dolphin is an isolated subspecies found only along the north-west coast of the North Island from Dargaville to New Plymouth. Both types occur only within a few kilometres of the coast.

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How to cite this page:

Gerard Hutching, 'Dolphins - Hector’s and Māui’s dolphins', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/map/4675/distribution-of-hectors-and-mauis-dolphins (accessed 26 April 2024)

Story by Gerard Hutching, published 12 Jun 2006, updated 1 Sep 2015