A breach of the Marine Mammals Protection Regulations can incur a penalty of between $400 and $600 or be prosecuted through the courts.
DoC's advice
Boaties, jet skiers, and others on the water and coastlines around New Zealand should not travel faster than idle or "no wake" speed within 300m of marine mammals such as whales, dolphins or seals.
They should approach from a direction that is parallel and slightly to the rear and should not circle the marine mammals, obstruct their path or cut through groups.
The vessel should also slowly idle away.
With dolphins in particular, the skipper can gradually increase speed to outdistance dolphins but it should not exceed 10 knots (18km/h) until they are more than 300m away.