KATHMANDU ROOF TOP CARPARK
The Terrace, Timaru
Even today, whales travel along our coast. Southern right whales and humpbacks migrate past Timaru. In 2019, locals helped rescue a stranded whale here—it made it safely back to sea!
Whaling led to a steep decline in whale numbers… some species came close to extinction. Whaling is now banned in New Zealand and most countries. Whales are legally protected.
This is a photo of a section of a mural created by Koryu, called Breath of Life.
Hunting whales in New Zealand waters was made illegal in 1978. Today, people enjoy watching whales, rather than catching them. All marine mammals within New Zealand's 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone are protected under the 1978 Marine Mammals Protection Act and New Zealand is recognised as a world leader in marine mammal protection.