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Background

Dave is a marine biologist focused on conservation in the Hauraki Gulf. He gathers data daily on the plant and animal life to monitor the health and well being of the marine life off the coast of Auckland. This is his story:

Work and Daily Life

Dave’s passionate about the nature in his native land of New Zealand and specifically the marine life in Hauraki bay. His daily life focuses on giving dolphin and whale watching tours and working with tourists to help fund his conservation efforts. His sarcasm and wit help him connect with people as he makes daily tracking of water temperature, color, phytoplankton and zooplankton levels and getting estimations on dolphin and whale populations in the area.

One of his greatest accomplishments was in helping move forward with an congressional act that provided guidelines for large shipping vessels passing through the gulf. Before 2013, on average 2 bryde whales were rammed and killed by the heavy container ships passing through the busy port. With a population of just over 100 whales in the bay, they could be wiped out in a few decades by the ships. In 2013, Dave and his team worked to pass legislation that would allow for an alert system for when whales are spotted and tracked. Container ships in the area would then optionally slow down, which decreases the likely of hitting and killing a whale by 70%. Since 2013, there has not been a single whale killed in the bay by a container ship.

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His Perspective

Because the land and the environment are so important to the Mauri people, Dave has this same focus and connection with nature. He feels we’re a part of this world and have a responsibility to look after and care for what we hold dear. The resources we have are limited, and he believes we can have an incredible time here on the earth without destroying what we have.

The laid back, “yeah, nah all good” mentality is deeply ingrained in Dave’s perspective. That as we casually do good and do daily acts to make the world better, we change everything for the better. He loves being out in nature and having the freedom of being on the ocean and learning from his environment. He makes an impact on all those who come on his tour, teaching them with humor and real facts to show the importance of maintaining and preserving his home in the Hauraki Gulf.

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