Pods of orca are sighted at least several times a year in Taranaki coastal waters. In the past these sightings have often been poorly documented leading to fragmented records.
Report a Sighting Map >>The boulder reefs that dominate the Taranaki coastline provide ideal habitat for reef herons.
Report a Sighting Map >>Existing records indicate an important little blue penguin population in Taranaki. Increased awareness of hotspots is required to provide better protection.
Report a Sighting Map >>Important breeding colony and haul out areas present on the Ngā Motu/Sugarloaf Islands. Numbers thought to be increasing nationally, though local data is scarce.
Report a Sighting Map >>The Taranaki coastline provides valuable habitat for a number of threatened species.
Project Hotspot is a Taranaki-based citizen science project driven by the Nga Motu Marine Reserve Society and funded by the Curious Minds initiative. The project runs through schools and is supported by scientists and community groups.
The Taranaki coast provides valuable habitat for a number of threatened seabirds and marine mammals. In order to protect these vulnerable species from potential threats, including loss of habitat and pollution, it is important to know where they occur and when. Valuable information can be gained from locals who visit the coast on a regular basis. Unfortunately this community-sourced information has often been poorly documented in the past.
To capture local knowledge on four coastal threatened species in Taranaki (orca, reef heron, little blue penguin and New Zealand fur seal) and use this information to better protect these species and their habitats.
