The Significance of Whales to Aotearoa New Zealand

Learn from the experts at Te Papa Museum of New Zealand

This four-week course tells a story of Aotearoa New Zealand (AoNZ) that weaves together natural heritage, Māori culture, colonial history, and the forging of the country it is today. This one, however, tells that story through a perhaps unexpected vehicle – that of the whales of AoNZ.

With expert insights from Te Papa (Museum of New Zealand), you’ll look to the past to understand the present and to better navigate the challenges of the future.

Discover the whales in New Zealand

You’ll start by exploring the biology, evolution, and diversity of the whales of AoNZ and what makes the country a global whale hotspot.

From baleen to toothed whales, you’ll discover the captivating creatures in New Zealand’s waters.

Explore the cultural significance of whales to the Māori people

The whales of the South Pacific are extraordinary, with unique species, cultures, and behaviours.

They also have a deep cultural connection with the earliest Māori, both physically and spiritually. You’ll explore how this persists today in fascinating and beautiful ways.

Discover the history of whaling in AoNZ and modern whale conservation efforts

After Cook, the first meetings between Māori and the wider world came in the form of whalers. You’ll discover the history of whaling and in particular, the role whaling played in the early European settlement of New Zealand.

Finally, you’ll explore modern approaches to whale strandings, threats, and conservation. You’ll gain a unique perspective on conservation as you develop sensitivities to various cultural considerations in a bicultural society.

By the end of the course, you’ll understand whales and conservation through a bicultural lens.

This course is designed for anyone who is curious about the biodiversity of whales, the deep cultural and spiritual meaning of whales to the Māori people.

It will also be useful for anyone interested in history, biology, and the cultures of the South Pacific.

This course is designed for anyone who is curious about the biodiversity of whales, the deep cultural and spiritual meaning of whales to the Māori people.

It will also be useful for anyone interested in history, biology, and the cultures of the South Pacific.

• Identify the variety of cetaceans found in Aotearoa New Zealand waters
• Compare the different ways cetacean species, eat, sleep, hunt, migrate and form relationships
• Explore the cultural and spiritual significance of whales to the Māori people
• Classify some of the significant objects made of whale ivory by Māori and other Pacific cultures
• Describe the early whaling industry and its role in Aotearoa New Zealand’s colonial and bicultural history
• Describe modern approaches to whale strandings and conservation through a bicultural lens.
• Explain the variety of threats whales and dolphins face today, and approaches to mitigate them