Skip to main content

Story: Protected areas

Protecting the Hector’s dolphin

Video file

New Zealand’s first marine mammal sanctuary was set up at Banks Peninsula in 1988 to prevent the endangered Hector’s dolphin from being caught in set nets. Problems can arise when the dolphins venture out of the sanctuary area in winter, as scientist Sam du Fresne explains in this documentary extract.

Using this item

Natural History New Zealand

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page

Les Molloy, Protected areas – Protected marine areas and inland waters, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/13884/protecting-the-hectors-dolphin (accessed 25 June 2026).

Story by Les Molloy, published 2 March 2009, updated 1 September 2015.