Marine Mammal Management Plan For The ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix Released

The world’s first climate positive sports and entertainment property, SailGP recognises its shared responsibility to protect the environments in which it operates and has rigorous marine mammal protection protocols in place for every city it visits, including Ōtautahi, Christchurch.

The MMMP for the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix has been developed under the guidance of Te Roopū Tiaki Whakaraupō Advisory Group, in partnership with Te Hapū ō Ngāti Wheke Rāpaki, manawhenua and mana moana over Whakaraupō. The plan was collated by local experts, Enviser Limited, with event logistics provided by SailGP and technical expertise provided by Cawthron Institute and Styles Group Underwater Acoustics. Members of Te Roopū Tiaki Whakaraupō Advisory Group provided input, expertise and review of the MMMP throughout its development, including representatives from Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke Rāpaki, the Department of Conservation (DOC), Environment Canterbury, Live Ocean and University of Otago researcher and Professor Emeritus Steve Dawson.

Karl Budge, Head of the New Zealand event says, “The marine mammal management plan for Whakaraupō, Lyttelton Harbour has been developed side by side with manawhenua and under the guidance of some of New Zealand’s leading marine mammal experts. There has been an enormous amount of effort and investment by many to protect the Hector’s Dolphins and other marine species when we race in Lyttelton next March.”

The plan outlines a multi-layered approach founded broadly on a comprehensive on-land and on-water observer programme. On training, practice and racing days, Whakaraupō, Lyttelton Harbour will be divided into alert zones, monitored by land-based Upokohue, Hector’s Dolphin Observers (HDOs), positioned at 10 observation stations at zone boundaries on both sides of the harbour. On-water transit surveys and observation will also help inform visual tracking prior to and during training and racing

A range of other measures and mitigations will also be implemented on training and racing days, including aerial surveys, real-time acoustic monitoring and the use of marine mammal sighting apps and informal observation by the support and spectator fleet. A technical executive summary of the MMMP can be found here, alongside an overview of mitigations. The full document can be viewed here.

Yvette Couch-Lewis (Te Hapū ō Ngāti Wheke Rāpaki), Chair of Te Roopū Tiaki Whakaraupō Advisory Group says, “Ensuring the welfare of the Hector’s dolphins is paramount to the overall success of the event and is a key value to Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke Rāpaki. This value has been at the forefront of Te Roopū Tiaki Whakaraupō Advisory Group.”

ChristchurchNZ Acting General manager of Destination & Attraction Tracey Wilson says, “the Marine Mammal Management Plan will set the standard for future events in Whakaraupō, Lyttelton Harbour and around the world. The way we think about managing marine wildlife in Whakaraupō has been greatly enhanced by working closely with Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke Rāpaki to understand the cultural significance of the Hector’s dolphins and the practices around them.”

Supplementary to the MMMP itself, SailGP and ChristchurchNZ have a joint aspiration to create legacy outcomes for the Upokohue / Hector’s dolphins as part of hosting the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix. This includes raising global awareness of the much loved, nationally-vulnerable species as well as the implementation of new or enhanced technology to detect and / or track Hector’s dolphins. 

The MMMP for the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix is an operational planning document and will continue to be updated in the lead up to and during the event.