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Story: Dolphins

New Zealand distribution of bottlenose dolphins

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New Zealand distribution of bottlenose dolphins

The coastal bottlenose dolphins are found in three regions: the eastern North Island from Doubtless Bay to Tauranga; the north of the South Island from Cloudy Bay to Westport; and Fiordland, where the biggest group is found in Doubtful Sound.

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How to cite this page

Gerard Hutching, Dolphins – Bottlenose dolphins, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/map/4681/new-zealand-distribution-of-bottlenose-dolphins (accessed 13 June 2026).

Story by Gerard Hutching, published 2 March 2009, updated 1 September 2015.