News / Blog

Stand Up & Be Counted

Large scale environmental art image was organized by “Let’s Face It” Visual Petitions coordinator Peggy Oki, Founder & Director of the Origami Whales Project. Read more...

Music to the Ears about Too Much Noise for Maui's Dolphins

After numerous e-mails and phone calls by Peggy Oki (Coordinator of "Let's Face It" Visual Petitions) since February (2013) pushing to formulate a group letter of concern to DOC with request for protocols including necropsy to determine cause of death in any cetaceans found in proximity to zones of seismic testing we gladly announce that the Society for Marine Mammalogy (SMM) is urging the New Zealand government to halt seismic testing in Maui’s dolphin habitat immediately. In a letter to New Zealand’s Prime Minister the SMM expressed concerns about seismic surveys in the home of Maui’s dolphins, the rarest dolphin species on earth. The President of the Society Prof. Helen Marsh said that "allowing seismic testing in the dolphins’ habitat may harm their hearing and push them into unprotected areas, where they are more exposed to fishing nets. The impact on the 55 remaining Maui’s dolphins could be devastating. Allowing this seismic testing appears inconsistent with the New Zealand Government's stated goal of enabling this subspecies to recover..." Read more...

Another Love Letter, shocking dolphin bycatch numbers, and Maui's Dolphins Making the News!

Letter to New Zealand Prime Minister regarding Maui's, Shock over accidental catch rates, and when a marine sanctuary is a "killing field". Read more...

Call to ACTION! Please spread the word & post widely!!!

We've heard that the NZ govt may announce the Threat Management Plan (TMP) on the Maui's & Hector's dolphins this month!!! Read more...

Dave “Rasta” Rastovich returns to paddle for the Maui’s Dolphins and New Zealand coastal habitat!

Congratulations and much gratitude to Dave “Rasta” Rastovich’s on returning to New Zealand for his 350km, two-week solo paddle from Cape Taranaki to Piha, west of Auckland, in New Zealand. The paddle aims to draw international awareness to the seabed mining proposed for the coastline. Read more...

Interactive Tool: "A future for the Maui's Dolphin?"

A visual exploration of threats & protection options made by 'dumpark creative industries' Learn about the rarest dolphin on earth and its worrying decline of population. Read more...

Love Letters and "Let's Face It" Calling All Heroes!

A group letter of concern with 50 national and international organizations, representing over 20 million concerned citizens globally, for the critically endangered Maui’s dolphin was signed on 24 October, 2012, and will be sent to Hon. John Key, Prime Minister of New Zealand. While this is impressive, we are still very concerned. Why? Earlier this year, more than 32,000 people having submitted on the measures around Taranaki, with 76 per cent of submissions calling for greater protection of Maui’s dolphins. Despite this, in September during the largest international conference on conservation (the IUCN) the NZ government was the ONLY member nation among 576 that voted against a motion to stop the extinction of the Hector's and Maui's Dolphins. So we need to do everything we can now to ensure that protections necessary for the survival of the Maui's and Hector's Dolphins will be included in the Threat Management Plan (TMP).  Read more...

Crusade to Save the Innocents

A true story unfolds as hundreds of nations, thousands of world citizens united, have eyes on New Zealand as leadership is called upon to save a precious symbol of peace and joy from vanishing forever. Read more...

Team up as "Let's Face It" Visual Petition Collectors

Peggy Oki will be collecting "Let's Face It" Visual Petitions at the American Cetacean Society XIII International Conference, San Diego, California, 9-11 November. Please contact us if you would like to help us in these last few days toward our goal of 5,500 VPs before 12 November. Read more...

NZ govt has reopened the submissions period regarding their Threat Management Plan (TMP) for the Maui's & Hector's Dolphins.

So we have till mid-November to collect as many "Let's Face It" Visual Petitions as possible. Let's show them through our global campaign that the WORLD IS WATCHING!!! Read more...

Unicorns, Maui’s Dolphins, Sumatran Rhinos, New Zealand Sea Lions, Yellow-eyed Penguins, and Irrawaddy River Dolphins, ...Oh My!!!

The New Zealand government has been making news, ...but not in a nice way. As the veil of “green” is raised, the dark truth of New Zealand’s current environmental policy is revealed. Is there light at the end of the tunnel? Read more...

Through the Dolphins' Eyes by Dove Joans

Dove has been showing her love for the Maui's & Hector's by collecting over 1,300 "Let's Face It" Visual Petitions, and has actively been a voice for these critically endangered Dolphins. And now Dove shows her skills through this wonderful video. Read more...

Attention All Surfers & Skaters, and Dolphin & Whale Lovers Alike!

Peggy Oki, Coordinator of the "Let's Face It" Visual Petition campaign and "Origami Whales Project" Founder & Director "continues to "Work it for the Whales, and Dolphins too of course!" Read more...

Peggy Oki, "Paints for the Porpoise"

Peggy Oki, artist and Coordinator of our "Let's Face It" Visual Petition campaign painted this bench as a contribution to the Carpinteria Valley Arts Council "Artniture" fund-raising event. And she's spreading the word at the same time with her creation which is also embellished with some art by students from her Whales & Dolphins Ambassador Program. Read more...

You can do something fun & easy to SAVE DOLPHINS in TWO COUNTRIES, in ONE DAY!

Japan Dolphins Day 2012 is just around the corner, 31 August or 1 September (depending on location). If you’ve watched “The Cove” you may already be planning to attend one of over 80 Japan Dolphin Day rallies across the world. Read more...

New Zealand dolphins to 'go the way of the dodo' because of cruel fishing methods

The world's smallest and most endangered dolphin 'will die out' unless radical changes are made to fishing, say scientists. Read more...

Ric O'Barry supports "Let's Face It"

Ric wrote: "Lets get behind this urgent effort, folks!" and with his blessings to create this VP on his behalf, "We love Peggy". Read more...

Sea Shepherds Love Maui's & Hector's Dolphins too!

Grateful to SSCS for posting this commentary on the need for NZ government to do much more to save the Maui's & Hector's Dolphins from extinction Read more...

Extinction is imminent for two marine mammal species unless their habitat is immediately cleared of gillnets

Research considered by the IWC's Scientific Committee shows that protected areas are too small to be effective, and progress in extending gillnet and trawl net free areas has been too slow to achieve recovery as part of New Zealand's national and international obligations. Read more...

Whales Urgently Need You To Act Today!

The latest news from Peggy Oki, "Let's Face It" Visual Petition campaign coordinator, Origami Whales Project Founder & Director... Read more...

Mining and Interim protection announced

Please consider these news items and actions that you can take to help. Read more...

Another fun way to Show your Love and spread the word

You can now turn your "Let's Face It" Visual Petition into your facebook profile timeline cover. Read more...

A blog from Peggy Oki, "Let's Face It" Visual Petition campaign coordinator, Origami Whales Project Founder & Director

Last night I presented the "Curtain of 3,800 Origami Whales" for a local screening of "Between the Folds", an amazing documentary about the art of origami... Read more...

Hector's Dolphin Day, July the 8th

Conservation Kids NZ - Calling all kinds who love dolphins, especially Hector's and Maui Dolphins! Read more...

Sending good thoughts

Liz Slooten (among foremost in studying the Maui's & Hector's Dolphins of NZ) is in Panama for the IWC meetings after presenting her paper to the Scientific Committee on the Maui's & Hector's of NZ, and the Vaquitas Dolphins of Mexico. Read more...

Happy Go Skateboarding Day everyone!

"Let's Face It" Visual Petition of one of my favorite skaters "The Cab" Steve Caballero, from the legendary Bones Brigade. Read more...

I Work it for the Whales (and dolphins too, of course!)

"I WORK IT FOR THE WHALES" says legendary Dogtown skateboarder Peggy Oki at the 2012 Skateboard Hall of Fame Awards. Read more...

Maui’s Dolphin Day 2012

Dave Rastovich and Lauren Hill travel to Raglan, on the West Coast of New Zealand, for the annual Maui's Dolphin Day celebration and community recycled raft race. Read more...

"Let's Face It" Visual Petition campaign submission

"Let's Face It" Visual Petition campaign submission, 1pm NZT, 11 April to the three decision-makers in the New Zealand government Read more...

Conservation Groups Call for Immediate Action to Save New Zealand’s Imperilled Dolphins

Over a dozen non-governmental organizations have requested that Prime Minister John Key take immediate action to protect Hector’s and Maui’s dolphins in a letter hand-delivered to him today. Read more...

March to Parliament in support of Maui's dolphin

Various conservation groups marched to Parliament this afternoon in support of the urgent measures proposed to save the dwindling Maui's dolphin population. Read more...

Goal of 5,000 "Let's Face It" Visual Petitions (VPs)

If you've already created your "Let's Face It" Visual Petition, you can still help by collecting more. Read more...

March for Maui - Maui Dolphin March on Parliament

Peaceful rally walking from Allen street to Parliament builidngs. We invite all people to walk with us and ask that our MP's use their special emergency powers and immediately stop the use of SET/Gill Nets.This march is supported by all New Zealand conservation groups. Read more...

Great news! Thanks to the many people across the world who have been participating, we have over 1,000 "Let's Face It" visual petitions!

We are hard at work to meet our print deadline for banners and posters to be presented to the New Zealand government in early April. While we won't be able to include any additional visual petitions (VPs) for this print run, our campaign will continue. Read more...

Hector's & Maui's Dolphins appeal by William Trubridge

Watch this excellent message from 15 time world champion free diver William Trubridge. Read more...

Raglan Positive Perspective - Peggy Oki "Lets Face It"

Juan Duazo of Raglan Positive Perspectives put together this great video for our "Let's Face It" visual petition campaign video. The sad thing is that since we began filming "On 13 March 2012, New Zealand's Department of Conservation announced that the number of Maui's dolphins is most likely 55." Read more...