Dolphin sanctuary proposed

A marine mammal sanctuary is New Zealand's last chance of saving Maui's dolphin from extinction, Forest and Bird said yesterday as it announced a proposal for a sanctuary off the north-west coast of the North Island.

The dolphin, the North Island sub-species of Hector's dolphin, is listed as critically endangered by the World Conservation Union, and just 111 remain. The sanctuary would be set up along the northwest coast of the North Island, from Maunganui Bluff near Dargaville in the north to Cape Egmont, Taranaki, in the south, including the inner harbours and estuaries.