Southern right whale spotted near Whangarei harbour: a 'promising sign'

Zaeschmar said the right whale has a unique blow that goes in two directions, creating a V-shape.

Southern right whales were once very common, but were hunted to near extinction by commercial whaling.

New Zealand's population is concentrated on the sub-Antarctic island of Auckland, and seeing the whales so far north is a promising sign that the species is slowly regaining its historic range, Zaeschmar said.

“It's estimated that there are fewer than 100 individuals that reach the mainland and most of them stay in South Island waters. They used to be common but they're still recovering from commercial whaling. They reproduce very slowly, so it's a very slow process,” he said.

“A single observation is not enough to detect any trend, but it is certainly a promising sign, especially as Whangarei Harbour has been an important wintering area in the past.”

The whale was spotted again Friday and Zaeschmar urged boaters in the area to pay attention.

Pauline Hall said seeing the whale was a dream come true.

“Every time we go fishing, we regularly say, ‘It would be great to see a whale.’ That wish came true on Thursday.

“We returned home fishless, but our hearts were filled with joy seeing this majestic mammal enjoying our beautiful Northland coast.”

She shared her photos on social media, including on the Whale and Dolphin Watch New Zealand Facebook page, where her post received more than 1,400 likes.

Southern right whales are predominantly black in colour and can be easily identified by the absence of a dorsal fin, a V-shaped blowhole and white growths on their heads called callosities, according to the Department of Conservation.

It is one of the largest species of whale, weighing about 40 tonnes, with the male averaging between 13 and 15 m long and the female about 16 m long. It is a baleen whale that feeds mainly on krill and small fish.

Far Out Ocean Research Collective is based in the Bay of Islands and focuses on oceanic megafauna off northern New Zealand, with the aim of generating greater knowledge of the diversity, but also the threats, facing our marine environment, Zaeschmar said.

Denise Piper is a current affairs journalist for the Defender of the Northspecializing in health and business. She has over 20 years of journalism experience and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference.