Despite being endangered internationally and protected nationally, little consideration has been given to the occurrence of green turtles ( Chelonia mydas ) in New Zealand. New Zealand lies on the southern boundary of the distributional range of green turtles in the southwestern Pacific, with individuals found within these waters historically considered to be occasional visitors or stragglers incidentally carried by ocean curr...

Understanding species distributions, and how they change in space and time, is vital when prioritising conservation or management initiatives. We assessed the distribution and density patterns of common dolphins ( Delphinus sp.), bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus ) and Bryde’s whales ( Balaenoptera edeni ) in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand. Dedicated boat‐based surveys were conducted in the inner Hauraki Gulf (IHG) and o...

We present the first fine‐scale data relating to the occurrence and group characteristics for killer whales ( Orcinus orca ) in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand, as observed from a platform of opportunity (PoP). Group size and composition were examined in relation to water depth and sea surface temperature (SST). From 2000 to 2010, 119 orca encounters were recorded, involving 1 to 18 animals. The encounter rate varied seasonally,...

Until recently, vessel collisions with small cetaceans were presumed rare, mainly as a consequence of limited reporting. Observations on dolphin wound healing from propeller strike injuries also remain scarce. We present an extreme case of a bottlenose dolphin ( Tursiops truncatus ) with multiple propeller wounds, including a penetration to the bone, where survival was possible for at least 23 days post injury. We used photogr...