'Special experience': Whale mum and calf spotted off Whangārei

Author: Karina Cooper,
Publish Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2026, 2:56pm

A southern right whale and her calf off the coast of Northland. Photo / Daniel Manchester

A southern right whale and her calf were spotted close to the Whangārei shore, in what the Department of Conservation called a “special experience”.

The pair were first spotted in Pātaua South, Whangārei Heads, last weekend before moving to the north side and Ngunguru on the Tutukākā Coast.

Local tohorā tohunga Hori Parata named the calf Te Pāpunui after the culturally significant site in Pātaua where they were first seen.

Ngāti Kororā and Ngāti Takapari hapū representatives were thrilled the whales could safely use the coastline as nursery grounds.

According to the Department of Conservation (DoC), the whales have made their way south and were last seen off the coast of northern Auckland.

While in Northland, the pair were photographed by Daniel Manchester with special permission from DoC.

DoC marine technical adviser Hannah Hendriks said seeing a mother and calf close to shore was a special experience.

“The pair will have travelled up from the subantarctic islands and will need lots of rest, particularly the calf, as they prepare for a long migration to their feeding ground south of Australia.”

Southern right whales spend the summer feeding across the Tasman.

During their breeding season in winter and spring, they are mostly found in the waters around the subantarctic islands. This is when some whales venture north around mainland New Zealand.

Hendriks said disrupting the whales’ natural behaviour can put them at risk.

“Southern right whales can spend time close to the coast, which gives people a wonderful opportunity to see them but it also means they can encounter busy recreational boating areas.”

Hendriks said the department wanted people to enjoy the sightings from land rather than sea, and to avoid advertising their live position so they can go undisturbed.

“Southern right whales are slow-moving whales and may not be able to move out of the way of vessels in time to avoid being hit.”

Whales can be hard to spot from a boat, Hendriks said, particularly when they are resting.

“Slowing down and giving them plenty of room is critical to prevent injury and disturbance, especially to calves.”

Southern right whales are protected under the Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978.

People must keep 50m from whales when on the water, with additional restrictions applying around whales with calves. Boaties must stay at least 200m away from whale mothers and calves.

Drones needed to stay 150m away from animals, and boaties needed to slow down when marine mammals were nearby, never block or cut across their path, and consider installing propeller guards.

Southern right whales historically bred around New Zealand in sheltered inshore areas but were hunted to near extinction in the early 19th century.

DoC said their population is recovering steadily and encouraged people to report sightings via the SeaSpotter app or its website.