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Story: Regional economies

Whaling stations

Whaling drew Europeans and Americans to particular regions of New Zealand. Whaling was commonest in the waters off the eastern coasts, from around Cape Runaway to the bottom of the South Island, and in Cook Strait and Foveaux Strait.

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How to cite this page

Malcolm McKinnon, Regional economies – Early regional economies, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/interactive/25211/whaling-stations (accessed 3 June 2026).

Story by Malcolm McKinnon, published 6 April 2010.