An auspicious and unusually early sighting of a young Paikea (humpback whale) off the eastern seaboard has marked the launch of the New Zealand leg of the Āvei Moana Voyage, a hapū-led ocean science expedition aimed at tracking climate impacts and restoring the region’s marine ecosystems.
The core aspiration of the two-year expedition, which begins its five-day coastal deployment this week, is to see the return and thriving recovery of Paikea, Parāoa (sperm whales), and Southern Right Whales to the heavily silt-laden waters of this climate-impacted area.
The young Paikea, estimated at seven months old and likely born during the 2025 tropical winter, was observed while the hapū researchers surveyed traditional fishing grounds between Whangaōkena and Rāhuimānuka. At this crucial age, calves are just beginning to wean as they make their way through the region’s vital “Blue Corridor”—making the rare encounter a deeply moving symbol for the crew.
“This sighting is a profound tohu, perfectly timed with the launch of the voyage,” said Dr. Mere Takoko, CEO of the Pacific Whale Fund and expedition co-lead. “In Te Ao Māori, to see Paikea right now carries deep spiritual meaning. It is incredibly rare, given that these whales usually transit our waters later in the winter, between June and July. It reminds us exactly who we are doing this work for and the urgency of protecting their pathways.”
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As they travel this Blue Corridor, humpback mothers are known to dive deep into the Hikurangi Trench to forage for food to sustain themselves. They are also famous for “logging”—resting quietly at depths of 10 to 20 metres to conserve vital energy and keep their calves hidden from surface predators.
To support the recovery of these marine giants, the expedition is undertaking the critical science needed to assess local ecosystems and establish marine environmental baselines. The expedition will operate the 75-foot ocean monitoring vessel SV Resilience, joined by the vessel Tangaroa, skippered by local ocean protector Joe McClutchie.
Together, the teams will conduct advanced environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling alongside biodiversity monitoring with local hapū. eDNA technology offers transformative capabilities, allowing scientists to detect microscopic genetic traces left behind in the water column to build a highly accurate picture of the biodiversity present.
Understanding these ecosystems is a critical climate resilience solution. By mapping the biological baselines of these silt-laden environments, the team can better understand how to recover the habitats and food webs that migrating whale populations depend upon.
“Massive sediment loads from the Waiapu River are actively smothering marine habitats, driving indigenous species of shellfish like hawea and essential seaweeds to the verge of extinction,” said Dr. Takoko. “We can no longer afford to treat the ocean as a limitless resource. This voyage is about building the knowledge needed to restore ocean health and ensuring that it remains in Indigenous hands—not extracted like everything else. That is critical to recovering whale populations and the ecosystems they sustain.”
The launch builds on work supported through the Moananui Sanctuary Trust, which is working alongside Ngāti Porou hapū to advance ocean governance, monitoring frameworks, and the recognition of customary marine rights. Data gathered will support customary marine title applications for 12 Ngāti Porou hapū and contribute to Indigenous-led frameworks for ocean monitoring.
The voyage is being delivered in partnership with Apparent Winds, supporting operational deployment alongside Moananui Sanctuary’s wider ocean governance framework.
Skipper and Executive Director of Apparent Winds, Prentice “Tripp” Brower, said the Resilience is a floating marae, a place where modern science and traditional knowledge meet.
“The biological and eDNA baselines we establish over these five days will be critical for the long-term survival of these coastlines,” Brower said. “By supporting communities to collect their own data, we’re ensuring this knowledge stays with the people protecting these ecosystems. It’s an honour to be part of a coalition that blends traditional knowledge with modern ocean science to support conservation outcomes.”
Following this initial leg, the Āvei Moana Voyage will expand across the Pacific along traditional ara moana (sea roads), travelling to Tahiti and the Marquesas, returning to Tahiti during the whale breeding season in July, and then continuing to Tonga and Samoa to work with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs).
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