onlincourse

The Significance of Whales to Aotearoa New Zealand

Take a deep dive into the whales of Aotearoa New Zealand to discover their spiritual and cultural significance with this online course from Museum of New Zealand.

Duration

5 weeks

Weekly study

3 hours

100% online

How it works

Unlimited subscription

Learn more

Established

1992

Location

Wellington, Aotearoa (New Zealand)

Learn from the experts at Te Papa Museum of New Zealand

This four-week course tells a story of Aotearoa New Zealand (AoNZ) that weaves together natural heritage, Māori culture, colonial history, and the forging of the country it is today. This one, however, tells that story through a perhaps unexpected vehicle – that of the whales of AoNZ.

With expert insights from Te Papa (Museum of New Zealand), you’ll look to the past to understand the present and to better navigate the challenges of the future.

Discover the whales in New Zealand

You’ll start by exploring the biology, evolution, and diversity of the whales of AoNZ and what makes the country a global whale hotspot.

From baleen to toothed whales, you’ll discover the captivating creatures in New Zealand’s waters.

Explore the cultural significance of whales to the Māori people

The whales of the South Pacific are extraordinary, with unique species, cultures, and behaviours.

They also have a deep cultural connection with the earliest Māori, both physically and spiritually. You’ll explore how this persists today in fascinating and beautiful ways.

Discover the history of whaling in AoNZ and modern whale conservation efforts

After Cook, the first meetings between Māori and the wider world came in the form of whalers. You’ll discover the history of whaling and in particular, the role whaling played in the early European settlement of New Zealand.

Finally, you’ll explore modern approaches to whale strandings, threats, and conservation. You’ll gain a unique perspective on conservation as you develop sensitivities to various cultural considerations in a bicultural society.

By the end of the course, you’ll understand whales and conservation through a bicultural lens.

Week 1
The secret lives of whales
- Welcome to the Course!
  Welcome to the course! Let's dive in, get to know each other, and get an idea what this course is all about.
- What is a whale?
  How did a hoofed, furred land mammal wind up with underwater descendants? And how do those descendants adapt to live in the deep sea when they still breathe air?
- Meet the locals
  Meet some of the whale species that can be found in the waters of the South Pacific, and learn about some of the incredible habits and adaptations that make them so fascinating.
- Lovers, friends, and foes
  The social intelligence and connections of cetaceans has long been fascinating to humans. In this article, we explore the complex communication, culture, and relationships both within whale families, and between different species.
- Wrap up and connect
  Let's reflect on everything we covered this week
Week 2
Whales in Māori and Pacific cultures
- Welcome to Week Two
  Welcome to week two!
- Legends of tohorā
  Whales have significant cultural and spiritual significance in Māori culture, and in the wider Pacific.
- Whale ivory taonga
  Let's dive into the Te Papa Collections to see the ways precious whalebone was (and is) used by Māori, and other cultures in the Pacific, in the production of high-status taonga (treasures) used for adornment, tools, and weaponry.
- Gift from the sea
  Aotearoa New Zealand is a whale stranding hotspot. Though today the first response to them is conservation and rescue, for Māori they were and are considered a gift, providing rich cultural resources to local iwi (tribes).
- Wrap up and connect
  Let's reflect on everything we covered this week
Week 3
There she blows
- Welcome to Week Three
  Welcome to week three!
- There she blows
  The peak of the whaling boom was an intense time, leading to significant social change for both Māori and settlers. Whaling became a goldrush, driving rapid industrialisation.
- Clashes and connections
  The whaling boom brought early whalers from around the world into close contact with the indigenous Māori of Aotearoa New Zealand. This meeting of cultures took many forms; partnership, trading, marriage, and open conflict.
- Life as a whaler
  Let's take a closer look at what life was like for early whalers, some of the products of their hard work, how the end of whaling came about, and the birth of the 'save the whales' movement.
- Wrap up and connect
  Let's reflect on everything we covered this week.
Week 4
Protection in a sea of perils
- Welcome to Week Four
  Welcome to week four!
- Close encounters
  A brief look at some famous dolphins that have found their way into the nation's hearts and how they drove the creation of marine mammal protections in Aotearoa new Zealand.
- Threats
  The threats facing the whales of the Pacific (and the world) today, are varied and many. Let's look at some of the biggest ones.
- Kaitiaki/Guardians
  Despite the myriad threats facing them, there is hope for both cetacean protection in Aoteareoa and the conservation of the cultural practices associated with them, thanks to the dedication of several groups and individuals.
- For our future
  There are larger things that can be done to protect the future of whales and dolphins, their ecosystem, and our wider world. In this section we look at just some of these
- Wrap up and connect
  Let's reflect on everything we covered this week.
Week 5
Additional week for self-study