Rare whale in Wellington Harbour NZ

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Actively supporting NZ’s endangered wetland birds

The story dominating local news over the past fortnight has been the arrival and frolicking sojourn in Wellington Harbour of a rare southern right whale. First spotted on July 3rd, by a passenger on a commuter train (9am), it has been identified by DoC as a southern right. NIWA has also confirmed the recording of sounds by the species locally. 

These whales appear to be making a comeback, two centuries after being hunted to extinction along these coasts and s/he (no-ones been able to spot the gender!!) got the timing  right with the advent of the Maori new Year -Matariki. Maori have indicated it as a positive portent for the coming year. The animal has become a treasured celebrity and many have adopted the name Matariki for it. 

Warmer sea temperatures have also been seen as a reason for this close encounter though another factor must surely be the plentiful food supply in the harbour where the whale has been observed feeding. So its a sign of a harbour in good health.

The annual Matariki fireworks display was delayed a week for fear of spooking the whale, but when it was seen leaving the harbour on Wednesday (11th July) and the fireworks finally took place Saturday.      

Thanks to Dom Post and Victor Huang, NZ Herald RNZ et al for story and pictures.

ps
This isn't the first right whale to be seen in the harbour however. Another vistor arrived in early October 1997. Thats 20 years ago...

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