The tail of a whale as it dives into the ocean
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Whales, dolphins, and sharks

Researching, caring for, photographing, and displaying the whales, dolphins, and sharks of Aotearoa New Zealand and the South Pacific.

  • Three dolphins playing in the sea
    Hector’s (and Māui) dolphins

    Hector’s (and Māui) dolphins

    The world’s tiniest marine dolphin lives here in Aotearoa NZ.

  • Side-on view of a dolphin skull
    Bottlenose dolphin

    Bottlenose dolphin

    Offshore bottlenose dolphins often hang out in groups with false killer whales.

  • Skull of a dolphin with teeth on a white background
    Marine mammals on Collections Online

    Marine mammals on Collections Online

    There are over 2000 marine mammal specimens in Te Papa's collection. They consist of skeletal material (articulated and non-articulated), preserved animals or parts thereof, skins, casts and mounts of individual animals.

  • Mangō book cover
    Book: Mangō: Sharks and Rays of Aotearoa

    Book: Mangō: Sharks and Rays of Aotearoa

    The fascinating lives of Aotearoa New Zealand’s sharks and rays.

  • Clean whale bones
    Caring for our whale bones

    Caring for our whale bones

    Lots of us care about saving the whales, but not many get as hands-on as technician Stephanie Ho. She’s spent the last nine months caring for whale bones in Te Papa’s collections. It’s a messy, smelly and painstaking job, but it’s protecting these important specimens for the future.

  • Whale’s tooth on a braided necklace
    Whale tooth graffiti – personalised Fijian tabua

    Whale tooth graffiti – personalised Fijian tabua

    Tabua (pronounced “tambua” – the b has a ‘mb’ sound) are pierced and braided whales’ teeth, originally taken from the lower jaw of sperm whales. Fijians consider them to be kavakaturanga (chiefly items) presented at important ceremonies, including weddings, births, and funerals. Tabua used to be the most effective way to give weight to an apology or atonement.

  • People surrounding a stranded pilot whale on a red tarpaulin
    Why do pilot whales sometimes crash-land ashore?

    Why do pilot whales sometimes crash-land ashore?

    What are pilot whales? And why do so many of them meet their doom ashore?

  • skull fossils of dolphin and a seal
    Research project: Diversity and evolution of New Zealand’s marine mammals

    Research project: Diversity and evolution of New Zealand’s marine mammals

    Studying fossils and living marine mammals to elucidate their diversity and evolution through deep time.

  • screenshot of underwater video
    Ghost shark in volcano caught on camera

    Ghost shark in volcano caught on camera

    While collecting hard-rock core samples from Brothers volcano in the Kermadec Arc, a ghost shark never before seen in this area, was caught on camera 1,200 metres under the surface.

  • 1874 photo of ten men, including Colonial Museum personnel, assembled around the skeleton of a pygmy right whale
    Podcasts about whales: Attitudes, research, first encounters

    Podcasts about whales: Attitudes, research, first encounters

    Get up close and personal with, and learn about cultural attitudes towards, the whale.

  • A long stick with coconut shells attached
    Shark bait

    Shark bait

    Throughout the 20th century, fishermen would use baits and the tu‘i ipu to attract the attention of sharks and lure them to their canoes.

  • The finely serrated edge of a megalodon tooth. The small size of the serrations is a diagnostic feature of megalodon. Photo by Rachael Hockridge, 2018. Te Papa
    The largest shark that ever lived – Megalodon (The Meg) in New Zealand

    The largest shark that ever lived – Megalodon (The Meg) in New Zealand

    Curator of Vertebrates Alan Tennyson looks at what we know about the monster that grew to 18 metres and lived in New Zealand’s waters – the megalodon ‘big tooth’ shark (Carcharocles megalodon).

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    Reassembling bones: How to build a Hector’s dolphin

    Reassembling bones: How to build a Hector’s dolphin

    Navigating brittle bones and teeth the size of rice, Thomas Schultz, Collection Manager Science, reflects on putting a Hector’s dolphin back together for an exhibition that would tour North America for ten years.

  • Whales and Dolphins of Aotearoa New Zealand - book cover
    Whales and Dolphins of Aotearoa New Zealand

    Whales and Dolphins of Aotearoa New Zealand

    For centuries whales and dolphins have captured our imaginations. But how much do we really know?

  • Cleaning out the shark mouth
    Great white shark new arrival at Te Papa

    Great white shark new arrival at Te Papa

    Our fish team picked up a great white shark, an endangered animal and a protected species. The shark had been ensnared in a fishing net and was dead by the time the fishermen had pulled it in, but the team were able to give the specimen a wash and have a closer look.

  • A painted cardboard shark fin with the words "Say no" and an image of a head of a shark.
    Shark fins for the Shark Alliance

    Shark fins for the Shark Alliance

    Between March and November 2013 there were 1894 decorated cardboard shark fins made by school students sent to the New Zealand Shark Alliance for its campaign to ban shark finning in New Zealand waters.

  • A whale tooth with holes in it on a black background
    Whale teeth artefacts in the western Solomon Islands: Tuhinga 17

    Whale teeth artefacts in the western Solomon Islands: Tuhinga 17

    Tuhinga 17 article by Rhys Richards

  • Whales
    Whales | Tohorā

    Whales | Tohorā

    Explore the amazing world of whales, through a unique blend of science and storytelling supporting our previous exhibition.

  • A humpback whale is seen underneath the water’s surface
    Oceanography: Investigating mysteries of the deep

    Oceanography: Investigating mysteries of the deep

    Learn about the amazing lives of sharks and whales and discover why whales are so important in Māori culture.