Dolphins of Aotearoa

Dolphins of Aotearoa - Living with New Zealand dolphins

Raewyn Peart - Craig Potton Publishing - Hardback with jacket - $59.99

Dolphins of Aotearoa explores the ongoing relationship between humans and dolphins in New Zealand. Over this nation’s history, numerous people, both Maori and Pakeha, have sought out dolphins and significant numbers of dolphins have sought out people. For many, encountering dolphins has been a profound and lifechanging experience.

This book tells the stories of many of these remarkable encounters, featuring all of the famous dolphins, such as Pelorus Jack from the early years of the 20th century, Opo in the 1950s, Maui and more recently Moko. In addition it chronicles the ultimately doomed attempts to keep dolphins in captivity in facilities such as Marineland in Napier. Importantly, Dolphins of Aotearoa also summarises the work of the dedicated scientists and researchers who over recent decades have learnt so much about our dolphins, and whose research has given great impetus to the conservation of these remarkable creatures.

Extensively researched and lavishly illustrated with historic and contemporary photographs, and incorporating a guide to all of the dolphins of New Zealand, this is an important and much needed addition to the literature about New Zealand’s marine world. It will have huge appeal and I can see it being under many a Christmas tree.

About the author:
Raewyn Peart is Policy Director for the Environmental Defence Society. She has a great love of New Zealand’s coast and oceans, stemming from many childhood holidays spent sailing the Hauraki Gulf and Northland coast in her family’s small yacht. Dolphins were frequently encountered on these trips.
Raewyn trained as a lawyer and economist and initially specialised in resource management law. For the past decade she has worked for EDS and has written widely on environmental topics. Her previous book Castles in the Sand: What’s happening to the New Zealand coast? was well received. Raewyn is a keen sailor and photographer.