“A Labour-led government may do more for the environment than a National-led one, but, judging by their commitments, the main parties will need the influence of the Maori Party and the Greens if they are to make real progress.”

“We asked the political parties to commit to 25 policies that would tackle climate change, clean up New Zealand’s rivers, save our oceans, protect natural heritage and exercise environmental leadership.  Both major parties refused to make clear commitments.”

This table summarises the results with a total score (out of 20) for each party under each of the goals. The overall rating represents the percentage of Vote for the Environment policies that the parties commit to implement.

“We were surprised by how poorly both the two major parties scored.  Neither of them showed the kind of commitment needed to keep New Zealand clean and green.”

Each of the eight main Parliamentary political parties were asked to confirm commit to the 25 environmental policies with a yes or no and were given space to clarify their answers.  Of the seven political parties that responded, only National and Labour refused to answer “ye’ or “no.” 

“National scored abysmally.  They refused to sign up to any of the policies, but they picked up 27% for making some small steps in the right direction.  Worryingly, along with United Future, they had the worst response of any party on responding to climate change (4/20) and had the weakest approach of any party to cleaning up New Zealand’s freshwater (2/20). ACT refused to even respond.

“Labour also refused to commit fully  to any of the policies, but their comments on the survey showed they are willing to do more than National for the environment.  They scored 45% overall.  Their strongest commitments were in saving our oceans (12/20) and saving New Zealand’s natural heritage (12/20). Labour made few commitments to clean up New Zealand’s freshwater (5/20) or to show environmental leadership (5/20)”

“United Future gained 53%, scoring well on cleaning up New Zealand’s freshwater, but did very badly on tackling climate change (4/20) and protecting New Zealand’s natural heritage (3/20).”

“Jim Anderton’s Progressives scored 60%.  Their strongest commitments were on saving the oceans (14/20), protecting New Zealand’s natural heritage (17/20)  and environmental leadership (14/20) “

“New Zealand First and the Maori Party scored far better than expected given their voting record in Parliament, where both parties have opposed environmental legislation.  New Zealand First gained 76% and the Maori Party gained 87%.  Both parties scored well on environmental leadership and the Maori Party scored the best of any party on cleaning up New Zealand’s water ways.”

“The Greens scored the best of any political party and were the only party to score 20/20 for tackling climate change”

The overall results of our survey were:

 Information on the survey can be downloaded at: http://www.environmentvote.org.nz/party-ratings.asp <https://webmail.vuw.ac.nz/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.environmentvote.org.nz/party-ratings.asp>

The voting record of political parties over the last 3 years can read here at:

http://www.environmentvote.org.nz/events.asp

For information on the issues and policies that we used in our survey read:

http://www.environmentvote.org.nz/key-issues.asp <https://webmail.vuw.ac.nz/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.environmentvote.org.nz/key-issues.asp>  

Vote for the Environment is supported by Greenpeace and ECO.  It is registered as a third party under the Electoral Finance Act 2007.

The response from each party that did respond can also be found on the www.environmentvote.org.nz <https://webmail.vuw.ac.nz/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.environmentvote.org.nz>   website

For further information contact Cath Wallace on 04-463-5713(w) or 04-970-8696 (H).

PRESS RELEASE

21 June, 2008

The Music 4 Mauis CD is a lovely, rhythmic, and haunting tribute to the dolphins that reside only on our coastline. Artists include Sola Rosa, Don McGlashan, Minuit, Fur Patrol, The Black Seeds, Ragamuffin Children, Pitch Black, Flip Grater, The Bads, Gasoline Cowboy and Ariana Tikao, whose moving song E Rere, is about farewelling a spirit.

Maui’s dolphins, the world’s smallest and rarest dolphin hug the coast of the North Island. They are a close cousin to South Island Hector’s dolphins, but are genetically different. There are only about 100 left and perhaps only 25 of them are females of breeding age. They are tiny, playful, spirited dolphins and considered to be kaitiaki, guardians and protectors of our soul. One more fishing season could forever erase Maui’s dolphins from our shores. Hector’s dolphins are now a quarter of their original population size.

BUY THE ALBUM NOW from Amplifier

Campaign director Gemma McGrath has two passions: music and dolphins. She is the driving force behind Music 4 Mauis, the CD by New Zealand musicians to benefit endangered Maui’s and Hector’s Dolphins. The first Music 4 Mauis CD features artists, gifted by Native Tongue Publishing and will be distributed by Rhythmethod, available in stores nationwide from June 16th.

So many musicians have answered Gemma’s call there will be a second CD release in the near future. It will include artists such as Hollie Smith, Shapeshifter, Cornerstone Roots, Tiki, Ladi 6, Nomad, and many more of the nations finest. Some are working with actual sound samples of Hector’s dolphins and weaving them into their music. You can listen out for these special tracks when they are ready, on the website and upcoming compilations.

Gemma’s seven years as a Kaikoura Whalewatch guide allowed her to see firsthand the sharp decline in Hector’s dolphin sightings. She became concerned enough to earn a degree in Zoology from the University of Otago and is now pursuing a Masters in Science Communication.

All proceeds will benefit the New Zealand Whale and Dolphin Trust, which will continue to raise awareness, fund research, and pursue legislation to protect our endangered dolphins.

Visit www.music4mauis.org for more information or email info@music4mauis.org.

We will soon feature podcasts, short videos and input from musicians around the nation in support of our dolphins with some music downloads, as promised. 

Kia ora for your patience as we develop this site further

Thank you so much for all your hard work on Hector’s and Maui’s dolphin
protection over the last couple of years! Without you we would certainly
not have got anywhere near this far.

The government’s decision is a modified version of Option 2 in the Threat
Management Plan. While we had all hoped for Option 3 or something closer
to total protection (the Option 4 that never made it into the plan), this
is a major step forward.

Most conservation groups are responding to the decision with a balanced
message that congratulates government for taking this major step towards
effective protection of our endemic dolphins, while at the same time
indicating that more will need to be done in the near future. Basically,
the new protection measures are an excellent start.

Successes:
1. The decision acknowledges that this is a nationwide problem that
requires a nationwide solution
2. It also acknowledges that the most effective way to solve the problem
is to avoid overlap between gillnet fisheries and dolphins
3. Hector’s dolphin populations on the South Island east coast are now
much better protected, with a ban on gillnets out to 4 nautical miles
almost throughout this area
4. Hector’s dolphin populations on the South Island south coast are also
much better protected, with a ban on gillnets out to 4 nautical miles
throughout
5. Maui’s dolphins are now protected further offshore, to 7 nautical miles
6. Maui’s dolphins are better protected in the harbours, with gillnet bans
in all harbour entrances
7. Government is clearly making a firm commitment to observer programs to
find out more about the number of dolphins caught in areas left
unprotected

Further protection measures needed in the near future:
1. Hector’s dolphins off Banks Peninsula are still unprotected beyond 4
nautical miles from shore (despite extensive research data showing their
distribution extends to 20 nautical miles)
2. Inside the Banks Peninsula Marine Mammal Sanctuary the dolphins are
still vulnerable to gillnetting in the flounder fishing areas at the tops
of the harbours (despite 12 months of research data showing the dolphins
use this area throughout the year)
3. No protection for Maui’s dolphins off Taranaki. The southern boundary
of the protected area has stayed in the same place
4. While the added protection for Maui’s dolphins in harbour entrances is
welcomed, most of the harbour habitat is still left unprotected
5. Protection for West Coast South Island dolphins is still inadequate
(out to 2 nautical miles, about a third of their offshore distribution,
and for only a quarter of the year for commercial fishers)
6. No protection for the Cook Strait area (Tasman Bay, Golden Bay and part
of Marlborough Sounds)
7. The lack of protection in the middle part of the geographic range
(Taranaki, Cook Strait) and low level of protection for the South Island
west coast means there is still a high risk for Maui’s dolphins. It is
unlikely that Maui’s dolphins will make significant recovery until the
southern parts of their distribution (and the harbours) are included in
the protected area. Currently, Maui’s dolphins immediately south of the
protected area are still exposed to very heavy gillnet fishing effort
8. The decision offers very little protection from trawling. How soon this
problem is solved will depend on observer coverage on trawling vessels
working in Hector’s and Maui’s dolphin habitat
9. Observer coverage will be a major challenge for the next few years. The
areas where dolphins are not so well protected (e.g. west coast from
Taranaki south to Jackson Bay, north coast of South  Island from Farewell
Spit to Marlborough Sounds) will need the highest level of gillnet
observer coverage, as will the trawling fleet

Am currently in Santiago for International Whaling Commission meeting.
Will be presenting a paper with a quantitative assessment of the new
protection measures. A bout of food poisoning has slowed me down a bit in
getting the paper ready and getting this to you – apologies for that. In a
nutshell the paper explains that these measures will almost hold the total
population at its current, seriously depleted level (25% of original
population size) with small population increases in some areas and
substantial declines in others. Overall, we would lose another 600 or so
Hector’s and Maui’s dolphins by 2050. The new regulations do not yet meet
national guidelines (recovery within 20 years) or international guidelines
(fishing should not lengthen the time to recovery by more than 10%) for
marine mammal conservation. But they’re a great start.

Thanks again!

Liz

 

Mon, 26 May 2008 07:26p.m.

There is no way dolphins can get around the problem of set nets without drowning.  From October 2008, here are the changes that will come into effect.  For the finer details see:  Minister announces new measures to protect dolphins

NEW DOLPHIN SANCTUARIES
* West coast, North Island.
* Clifford and Cloudy Bay, Marlborough.
* Porpoise Bay/Fortress, Catlins coast.
* Te Waewae Bay, Southland.

*Extension of Banks Peninsular sanctuary

NEW REGULATIONS/BANS  

* An extra $6 million over the next three years for observers on all commercial fishing vessels within the dolphins’ range

 South Island

East and South Coast:

* Set nets banned 4 miles from coastline (1 mile from coastline in Kaikoura Canyon area)

* Trawling restricted to 2 miles from coastline

West Coast:

* Recreational set net ban 2 miles from coastline

*Commercial set net ban 2 miles from coastline during Dec-Feb

Industry Effects:

$80 million over 10 years to fishing industry

65 fishermen out of fishing work

 It is estimated that Hector’s dolphins already bring in $24 million a year in tourist dollars, and the new measures will help increase this.

 That’s well over $240 million for our economy over 10 years.

Just think of all the fish we will have around our coastal waters as a result of these new fishing regulations.  So many other ocean species benefit from these changes.  Although these changes are a huge step in the right direction, the dolphins are still in a critical situation and need our ongoing monitoring and support. This is option 2 of the Threat Management Plan, and is not nearly as effective for protecting the dolphins as Option 3, or better still Option 4. The new legislation only keeps them at their current population level and does nothing to increase their numbers. Their numbers will only increase with COMPLETE protection in their current and historical range.  For more info see Liz Slooten’s recently published scientific article about the effectiveness of 4 management options.

The dolphin link between the North and South Islands is still not safe  for them to travel across. This is scientific suicide for the Maui dolphins as they need this genetic lifeline, free from as many dangers as possible if they are to survive the long term. To keep the Maui dolphin family healthy they need to interbreed with Hector’s as often they can, as they have traditionally for thousands of years. 

The regulations on the West Coast of the South Island only apply in Summer.  From past experience, when the Marine Mammal Sanctuary in Akaroa was getting established we know temporal regulations don’t work.  They are hard to regulate, standards slip and dolphins still die.  Dolphins do generally spend time closer to shore in summer, but they can be seen within several metres from shore anytime in winter. 

All in all though it’s great news and the biggest fisheries changes our nation has seen in 20 years! Our coastal waters just got a whole lot more richer and sustainable.  Line fishing is going to get a revival. And our dolphins are now on their way to a slow recovery.  

 Looking to support our protection of our native dolphin species? Then look no further than this beautiful compilation featuring some of New Zealand’s finest musicians.

The ‘Music4Mauis’ New Zealand music compilation album fittingly titled ‘songs to save a species’ is finally here.

The album is currently being distributed nationwide throughout NZ. All proceeds go toward positive initiatives to protect our critically endangered, Maui Dolphins.

There current situation is extremely grave. With less that 100 of these native dolphin left in the world they could go extinct at any moment! Our dolphins face constant threats from fishing industries and set nets. As the people of this country, Aotearoa, we have to stand together and protect these magical creatures for generations to come.

Album Tracklisting:

1.SEA SHANTY
Raggamuffin Children
2.MIRACLE SUN
Don McGlashan
3.RUDE MECHANICALS FEAT KP
Pitch Black
4.HIDDEN AGENDA
Fur Patrol
5.A ROOM FULL OF CUTE
Minuit
6.LIGHTS OUT
Sola Rosa
7.THE ANSWER
The Black Seeds
8.I HEAR YOU CALL MY NAME
Gasoline Cowboy
9.VALID STATE OF MIND
The Bads
10.WHERE’S THE DOOR
Flip Grater
11.E RERE
Ariana Tikao

Soundsplash-stall

Originally uploaded by mauidolphins

SoundSplash 2008 shook the shores of Raglan. And Music4Mauis was there to enjoy every last drop!

As a vibrant surfing community, Raglan feels the effects of dolphin devastation as much as anywhere in NZ.

Surfer’s are among the luckiest people around to be able to experience such a magical creature at such close range. These good omens are a blessing to our oceans.

Originally uploaded by mauidolphins

To all those who filled out the ‘Petition Post Cards’ thank you. The post cards are a valuable record of public support for our endangered dolphins. From stalls across the country so far, thousands of these have been completed by New Zealander’s who care about the protecting the last of the species native to our coastline. These post cards are mailed to our Prime Minister Helen Clark.

Please also note that you can help out by texting dolphin to 8080 at any time (yes as much as you want!). The message is sent to Helen Clark as a reminder that our dolphins need urgent action. Texts cost 20c.