The Tohoraha of Rangitāhua

The whales use these waters as a stop-over point after leaving the Pacific Island breeding grounds, staying for around four days before they continue their long journey south to Antarctic waters. The peak stop over time is mid-September to mid-October, so our Te Mana o Rangitahua voyage was nearing the end of last year’s season. But we were really pleased to still see whales coming through, mostly mothers with their new-born calves who are only a few months old but already able to leap clear of the water and play with other calves.  

One big difference from our earlier research visits is that there were very few singing males. We suspect that they have already passed the islands and now we’re seeing the mothers with their young calves who need to swim a little slower and take the time to let their calf grow as they swim south.  

We came so close to losing the tohoraha with commercial whaling leaving fewer than 5% of the pre-whaling numbers. But they are recovering, and Rangitāhua is an important place for them to gather.