Category: New Zealand Associations and Organisaitons

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“More Extreme, Deviant & Violent” Porn – Health Ministry

Source: Family First – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: “More Extreme, Deviant & Violent” Porn – Health Ministry

Media Release 30 March 2018
The Ministry of Health, in its submission to the Select Committee which is considering a 22,334-written petition calling on an expert panel to investigate the public health effects and societal harms of pornography, says that “the content of pornography has changed significantly over the last 20 years and has become more extreme, deviant and violent.”

It also acknowledges that “violence towards women and girls is depicted in 80% of online content. This has a variety of harmful impacts on children and young people’s sexual expectations, attitudes, and behaviour. European research showed an association between regular viewing of pornography and initiation of sexual violence.” However, the Ministry admits that it hasn’t undertaken any research in the area of pornography, but is supportive of the petition’s call.

The petition states: “That an expert panel be appointed to investigate the public health effects and societal harms of pornography to both children and adults, and to make policy recommendations to Parliament.” 

“The response to our petition has been phenomenal, but indicative of the community concern over this issue. Society is starting to catch up with the science on the harms of pornography. It’s time we examined it and took appropriate action – and that will be the role of an independent expert panel. There has been an important national conversation around consent and ‘rape culture’. At the same time, there is increasing consumption and availability of online pornography and sexual violence. It’s time we connected the dots,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ who is sponsoring the petition.

The MoH also acknowledges eminent Australian gender and violence research Associate Professor Michael Flood who recently said, “[I]f we’re genuinely concerned about sexual harassment and abuse, whether at work or on campus or in school, then we have to address pornography. Pornography is a key influence on sexist and sexually objectifying attitudes and sexually coercive behaviour.”

A nationwide poll in April 2017 found high levels of concern around the effects of online pornography and its link to sexual violence, and the easy access that young people have to offensive material. It also found significant support for action from government and internet providers in terms of filtering and Opt-Out provisions.

“The research also is discovering the highly addictive nature of pornography – termed by some as ‘the new drug’. These studies all highlight the extent to which porn is not a private matter to be ignored by the government. It is a public health crisis which needs to be confronted.”

“If we want to tackle sexual violence, we must first admit the role that pornography plays and the harm that it does to attitudes and actions,” says Mr McCoskrie.

Family First’s written submission to the Select Committee is on our website: www.porninquiry.nz They are due to appear before the Committee on April 11.

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Another great opportunity to come and work with us: Conversation Creator

Source: National Council of Women of New Zealand – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Another great opportunity to come and work with us: Conversation Creator

As a result of funding from ACC we will be expanding the national office team to include this new role. Please share it with your networks:

Conversation Creator (Social Marketing Advisor)

Six month fixed term 20 hours per week

Open to all genders, we have a unique opportunity for you to help lead New Zealanders to a shared understanding of gender equality in this supporting role. You’ll be developing exciting content from New Zealand’s first Gender Attitudes Survey to engage stakeholders and the general public in conversations about gender.

  • A unique opportunity to build on the Gender Attitudes Survey results, and the first wave of publicly released narratives, with infographics and a short film.
  • Mobilise existing reach through our membership and digital platforms to distribute content and provoke conversations to change attitudes.
  • Post content and monitor the Gender Equal NZ website and busy social media spaces as the Gender Attitudes Survey collateral is released.
  • Work with our Masculinity Advisors to put together positive messages about masculinity.

The National Council of Women of New Zealand has recently launched Gender Equal NZ. The Gender Equal NZ movement aims to lead New Zealanders to a shared understanding of the inequalities that persist in our society – by shifting the underlying attitudes and assumptions that cause these inequalities.

We have some exciting new plans to harness the growing interest in gender equality and build a shared understanding to take collective action for change. The Gender Attitudes Survey is one of the three key projects under Gender Equal NZ. These projects target the four key areas of inequality, economic independence, safety and health, education and influence and decision making.

We’d love you to join our small team if you have:

  • Minimum of 1 year relevant experience in communications and/or managing digital communities
  • Understanding of the social norms and attitudes that underpin gender inequality, including an awareness of intersectionality
  • Relevant tertiary or industry qualifications eg communications, journalism, marketing, project management
  • Project management, record-keeping and administration skills
  • Ability to produce accessible web appropriate copy for diverse audiences
  • The ability to be a team player and collaborator
  • A good sense of humour and a positive attitude

The job description is available here.

Applications close on Thursday 12 April

For more information about this position please contact Greta Parker on 04 473 7623 or email your CV and covering letter to jobs@genderequal.nz

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Physical Restraint Rules Remove Common Sense & Safety

Source: Family First – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Physical Restraint Rules Remove Common Sense & Safety

Media Release 26 March 2018
Family First NZ says that school staff are wasting hours of valuable time having to complete documentation on the physical restraint of disruptive and unruly students in primary schools. Official documents from the Ministry of Education show that more than 1,000 reports of physical restraint have had to be lodged by schools since new rules were introduced for schools in August 2017. 75% of the incidences occurred in primary schools with children as young as five. 85% of the incidences involved boys.

This also means that more than 5,000 forms or reports will have had to be completed by school staff.

“The Ministry suggests that the number of reported incidents is “a small percentage” but the real issue is whether teachers are ignoring or unable to deal with unruly and unacceptable behaviour in very young children because teachers are now no longer confident or unsure of their right to restrain students. This then places all students at risk. It seems ironic that as we are saying no to violence within families and our community, schools are expected to tolerate an unacceptable level of violence and unruly behaviour, Teachers also say that they are scared to even break up schoolyard fights or are standing back while a student trashes the classroom,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

Ministry Guidelines argue that “physical restraint is a serious intervention” and that the “emotional and physical impact on the student being restrained” can be significant. They say that school staff should not use physical restraint in a number of situations including:

  • to respond to behaviour that is disrupting the classroom but not putting anyone in danger of being hurt
  • for refusal to comply with an adult’s request
  • to stop a student who is trying to leave the classroom or school without permission

 

  • to stop a student who is damaging or removing property, unless there is a risk to safety.

They also say that “if escalation occurs, move further away”.

For any acts of physical restraint on a student, five forms must be completed – an incident report, information for the Ministry, staff reflection form, debriefing form with the Principal, and a debriefing with the parents.

“Teachers are right to be concerned about the potential harms and hassles of handling unruly and violent students and the possible effect on their professional status. Common sense has been expelled from schools, and no amount of ‘guidelines’ and ‘professional development courses’ can make up for teachers being able to respond quickly and instinctively in the most effective way in often very stressful and exceptional circumstances. Parents also want assurance that their children will be kept safe from violent or unruly students,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

“Combined with the ‘chilling’ effect of the anti-smacking law, this is all having the adverse effect of parents and teachers becoming too afraid to administer any physical control or restraint of children. Children have received the message that adults can not touch them or even tell them what to do. This seriously undermines the authority of parents, teachers, and even the police themselves – hence the increasing violence and disrespect towards parents, teachers and police.”

“We are quickly creating an unsafe environment where children know their rights, but not their wrongs. Restoring authority will make our children happier and our communities and schools safer.”

“Student behaviour and bullying will continue to deteriorate for as long as we tell them that their rights are more important than their responsibilities, proper parental authority is undermined by politicians and subject to the rights of their children, and that there will be no consequences of any significance when they ‘cross the line’.”
ENDS

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Proposed Education Bill could be disastrous for disadvantaged children

Source: Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Proposed Education Bill could be disastrous for disadvantaged children

Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) says that if passed, the Education (Social Investment Funding and Abolition of Decile System) Amendment Bill could put schools serving income poor and materially deprived communities at risk of losing funding they desperately need, and their students at increased risk of bias and stigma.

Erica Stanford, the National MP championing the member’s Bill which was drawn from the ballot this week, said that “by scrapping the decile system, we will remove a blunt instrument and replace it with a fairer school funding system that better reflects the needs of children and young people.”

Education researcher and former MP Dr Liz Gordon stated in her blog on Friday that the proposed changes would replace a simple system with a “complex one fraught with issues of privacy”, and would be very unlikely to reduce stigmatisation of schools, as proclaimed by Stanford.

Deciles take into consideration the neighbourhood demographics and socio-economic characteristics, but they are, “not a reflection of school quality,” says Gordon.

Parents will continue to rely on ERO reports to determine the ‘quality’ of a school; there is a risk that without the contextual information that deciles provide, schools may fail to achieve roll numbers they need to thrive.

Professor John O’Neill, CPAG education spokesperson, says that the Bill is less about achieving equitable educational outcomes for all, and more about replacing equity funding for the many with risk funding for the few.

“The fact is that the indicators of family and community disadvantage used in the decile system are closely correlated with poor educational outcomes,” says O’Neill.

“The Bill’s sponsor appears to be confusing the social stigma and bias that have become attached to low decile schools over the last twenty years, with the significant additional funding needed to help these schools address the multiple educational challenges they face.”

Targeted at-risk funding (TARF), that aligns with the principles of the former Government’s Social Investment strategy provides an amount of funding for children based on their meeting a specific set of life experience-related criteria. This defines them as being potentially vulnerable or ‘at risk’ of poor outcomes. More targeted funding would be allocated when a child meets multiple risk factors. Income poverty and material hardship are strong predictors of poor outcomes for children, but poverty and material hardship are not included in the ‘social investment’ risk factors. Many of the children who meet the life experience criteria may not actually have poor educational outcomes.

“The Bill is based on a fundamentally flawed view of what disadvantaged children need to succeed in education,” says Professor O’Neill. “The previous government wanted to fund all children at exactly the same base rate unless they had special educational needs or their families were at risk. This approach ignores the reality that children cannot leave their everyday household and community life experiences outside the classroom door.”

Dr Gordon says social investment is “about individual funding, and in particular providing a voucher that expresses the dollar value of each person according to their educational needs.” The expectation that money would follow a child through their education, would create substantial extra administration when an ‘at-risk’ child moved schools, and may delay funding when it is needed.

There is a huge risk of exposing children to judgement and stigma despite any attempts to make the profiles of the children private, as the schools will likely know which children are more at risk.

CPAG is concerned that without substantial additional guaranteed funding that recognises the ongoing challenges of teaching and learning in communities where many or all children are from low-income, high-hardship households, schools could stand to lose most of the equity funding allocated under the current decile rating system.

“The only way this proposal could possibly work would be to set the base funding rate for all children at such a high level that any additional funding is then simply icing on the cake,” says Professor O’Neill.

“At present, given the disgraceful numbers of children living in poverty and hardship, many low decile schools must feel like they are getting crumbs, not cake.”

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Women Need To Know Risks of Abortion – Study

Source: Family First – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Women Need To Know Risks of Abortion – Study

Media Release 23 March 2018
A research paper for health professionals which reviews international evidence to date about the relationship between abortion and the physical and mental health of women says that abortion is associated with a wide range of adverse physical and psychological outcomes, and it is essential that women are made fully aware of all the risks.

“Abortion and the Physical and Mental Health of Women – A review of the evidence for health professionals” is written by bioethicist Dr Gregory Pike, and summarises the considerable international research undertaken on the physical and psychological impact on women, and also on the circumstances surrounding the decision-making process. It concludes that while studies on abortion have sometimes yielded inconsistent results, there is a clear correlation between abortion and adverse psychological outcomes.

Other conclusions based on the research analysis include:

  • Intimate partner violence (IPV) is strongly correlated with abortion, with some research showing a 6-fold increase of IPV in women undergoing abortion compared to those in antenatal care. Abortion has also been linked to international trafficking and slavery of women. Presentation for abortion may be an opportunity to address the risk of coercion and intimate partner violence.
  • Ambivalence to abortion is common and is linked to some adverse post-abortion outcomes.
  • The prevalence of foetal abnormalities has increased in many countries and women commonly report a lack of information provided to them about the child’s condition, and the options open to them. (an example was recently covered in the NZ media)
  • The physical effects of abortion include an increased risk of premature delivery in subsequent pregnancies, and this appears to be related to surgical abortion but not medical abortion.
  • Significant inconsistencies exist in research about a possible link between abortion and the risk of breast cancer, yet there is evidence showing that carrying a pregnancy to term is protective against breast cancer.

In one significant finding, the research suggests that medical abortions outstrip surgical ones by a factor of at least four when it comes to the overall incidence of complications. A Finnish study of almost 43,000 women found that “the incidence of adverse events was 4 times higher in medical versus surgical abortion (20% v 5.6%). Moreover, haemorrhage in medical versus surgical abortions was significantly higher at 15.6% compared with 2.1%, as was incomplete abortion (6.7% v 1.6%).”

“This is concerning given that the Abortion Supervisory Committee has recently told politicians that it would be safer for women having a medical abortion to take the medicine at home. In fact, the Scottish government guidance says a woman must have another adult with her and the pill must only be taken up to ten weeks gestation, indicating that it’s not a straightforward procedure,” says Marina Young, spokesperson for Family First NZ, which commissioned the research.

The research paper also includes NZ-based studies including the University of Otago study in 2008 which found that women who had an abortion faced a 30% increase in the risk of developing common mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. And a research paper entitled “Does abortion reduce the mental health risks of unwanted or unintended pregnancy? A re-appraisal of the evidence” by Professor David Fergusson, John Horwood, and Joseph Boden which was published in the 2013 edition of the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry concluded that the evidence shows that abortion was not associated with a reduction in rates of mental health problems, but was associated with increases in risks of anxiety, alcohol and drug misuse, and suicidal behavior. They state: “There is no available evidence to suggest that abortion has therapeutic effects in reducing the mental health risks of unwanted or unintended pregnancy. There is suggestive evidence that abortion may be associated with small to moderate increases in risks of some mental health problems.”

“New Zealanders want women to make an informed decision. In a poll of NZ’ers in 2011, the majority of New Zealanders (64%) said that women considering abortion have the right to be fully informed of the medical risks of abortion – and the alternatives. And a 2016 survey asked respondents whether they agreed with the following statement: “Women who have abortions risk harming their mental health as a result of the abortion.” Overall, 46% agreed with the statement, 21% were unsure or didn’t say, and only 33% disagreed. Significantly, strongest agreement with the statement came from the younger 18-40 age bracket (50%),” says Mrs Young.

“We highly recommend this paper to all health professionals who believe that women should be fully informed of the choices they may make.”

READ THE FULL REPORT

ENDS

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Opinion: In Indonesia’s Pacific neglect, reminders of our own

Source: Asia New Zealand Foundation – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Opinion: In Indonesia’s Pacific neglect, reminders of our own

How Asia and the Pacific interact will define New Zealand’s foreign policy for the foreseeable future, writes Auckland journalist Mackenzie Smith after spending two months in Jakarta.Mackenzie Smith was in Jakarta on the Australian Consortium for In-Country Indonesia Studies Journalism Professional Practicum. His participation was funded by the Asia New Zealand Foundation’s media programme. In Indonesia, I expected to broaden my understanding and realisation of Asia and its importance to New Zealand. And in a way I did. But more than anything, the experience reinforced for me why engaging with and respecting the Pacific is paramount for New Zealand.My first week at AFP’s Jakarta bureau coincided, tragically, with the deaths of as many as 100 people, mostly toddlers, in Papua from a measles outbreak. The crisis, sparked by poor conditions and increasing local reliance on imported foods, represented “decades of neglect” by Indonesia following its annexation of the region.AFP committed significant resources to covering this, including sending a team of reporters to a remote Papuan village. Along with assistance from us folks that manned the fort in Jakarta, they produced what I believe was the definitive coverage of that health crisis. It was genuinely humbling to be a part of. Papua, after all, has faced decades of neglect from the international media too, New Zealand included.While RNZ Pacific does a fantastic job, it is not enough and, as pointed out by some, it is too partisan at times. Diversity is needed when we cover events of international significance. Yet Papua is of particular and unique significance to New Zealand. Having played a key role in the decolonisation of the Pacific, if we cannot continue this, including by acknowledging Papua as a Pacific and Melanesian nation, then surely we are siding with our colonial past (and present).New Zealand’s foreign policy is changing dramatically, and not just under the direction of a new government in place. As recent speeches by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have indicated, policy shifts towards the Pacific are motivated at least partly by the increasing sway Asia has there. And although veiled references to China were highlighted by analysts, its long arm is not the only one in play in the Pacific.There is a need now to be more savvy than ever towards Asia, if only for the sake of the Pacific. And for all the importance of politics in setting the pace of national dialogue, journalists too play a significant role. The New Zealand media’s restraint, for example, in covering revelations of China’s political influence activities from Anne-Marie Brady has been remarkable. Just look at Australia, they are going nuts over there.The media certainly prodded officials during the government’s recent Pacific tour over China’s growing influence there but it was a long way from the “roads to nowhere” white elephant rhetoric coming from across the ditch. There is hope for how we cover the Asia-Pacific and for the voices we give air to.So it feels like a good time to arrive back as an “Asia-savvy” journalist – savviness being a term I share the Asia New Zealand Foundation’s fondness for – but an even better time to be a Pacific-savvy journalist. While both regions demand our attention, one neighbours us and one we sit in. How the two interact will define New Zealand’s foreign policy mandate for the foreseeable future.There was no happy resolution to Papua’s health crisis; it merely petered out, media coverage in its final days giving way to the detainment of a rather foolhardy journalist who had set out to cover it, rather than the real issues at hand.And, as observers told AFP, the deaths are doomed to be repeated unless drastic action is taken. The day before Indonesia declared the crisis over, in an unrelated incident a 61-year-old woman was shot dead by military police in Papua. As the Foundation’s Pip McLachlan has pointed out, “we need to talk about Asia”. But we also need to talk about the Pacific.Views expressed are personal to the author.This article was first published on the Asia Media CentreFind out more

22 March 2018

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Plunket Transition Update

Source: New Zealand Plunket Society – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Plunket Transition Update

People are talking about Plunket this week and we understand some people are wondering what we are doing.

We want to assure New Zealanders that hundreds of dedicated Plunket staff and volunteers up and down the country are doing the same thing today that we’ve been doing for over 110 years – looking after families at one of the most critical and special times of their lives. We continue to do this and our Plunket nursing service is not changing.

But Plunket has recently made some changes to our structure – because we have to – but it looks like not everyone knows that story; why and how we are transforming, and what it means for New Zealand.

Through our proud 110 year history, everything our dedicated staff, volunteers and supporters have done has been about investing in families and children so we can make the biggest difference in their lives. But we all know, society is constantly changing and we have to change with it.

New Zealand has too many children living in poverty, and we have a new generation of parents wanting our services delivered in ways that work for them and at times that suit them, including through digital channels.

This is what led us to make historic changes over the last few years to our governance structure and to become a single national entity.

Our previous structure had led to vast disparities in our support to communities. In those areas with an active area society and volunteer base – Plunket’s extra services were plentiful. But in others, often those that needed it most, dwindling volunteer numbers and fewer members to support area societies, meant there were hardly any community services at all.

This was a courageous step by our membership to vote to consolidate and work together to address the needs of all families.

We will continue to work with our volunteers, communities and funders. These friends play a vital role in building our future because, while our Well Child service is funded by the Government, all our other services including parenting education, refugee family groups and playgroups for example, only happen because of their generous support – of funding, time and local people understanding local needs.

We know change is hard. But our decisions will necessarily be bold and brave so we can be there when families need us and we can deliver our strategy, the Journey Towards Generational Change.

If you would like to hear Plunket CEO, Amanda Malu talk about Plunket’s changes you can listen here.

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‘Leadership Network member provides wedding guests ‘Tips from the white guy’

Source: Asia New Zealand Foundation – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: ‘Leadership Network member provides wedding guests ‘Tips from the white guy’

Plenty of brides and grooms probably wish they could tell some of their wedding guests how to behave on their special day. Leadership Network member Bradley Scott had no qualms about doing just that.

At the end of January Bradley tied the knot with partner Nirupa George at a ceremony at the Shri Swaminarayan temple in Avondale, Auckland.

In the lead-up to the special occasion, Bradley shared a series of “Tips from the white guy”, basically a bit of guidance on wedding etiquette for his non-Sri Lankan guests.

Nirupa fled the Sri Lankan Civil War, arriving in New Zealand as a ten-year-old. As a nod to her heritage, the couple decided to have a Tamil as well as a Western wedding ceremony.

Since his engagement to Nirupa, Bradley had attended a few Tamil weddings. For a newbie, the experience can be overwhelming, he says.

“There’s 300, 400, 500 people all who knew what was going on. And then there was me.

“It’s just kind of really chaotic – what’s going on and where am I supposed to be?”

He provided guidance on suitable wedding attire: “I’ve received a request for #tipsfromthewhiteguy about Tamil wedding fashion. This one can be as elaborate or as simple as you want to make it.

“The same style of attire as you’d wear to a western style wedding is a-ok. And, probably the default option for most of you. On the other end of the spectrum would be going all out, with a sari for gals and a verti and shirt for the gents.”

Bradley also clued guests up on logistics: “At the end of the ceremony, half of the room will be invited up on stage to bless Nirupa and I, and half will go to the dining hall for dinner. In either case, expect a queue. But once you’re on stage and at the front – the blessing is done by sprinkling rice on our head, then shoulders, and then knees. Just remember the nursery rhyme, but without the toes part. Or, simply copy the thing the 100 or so people before you have done.”

The goal was to pre-equip guests with a basic cultural competency, he says.

“I wanted them to have fun and just be a part of it and not have to stress about those things.”

It’s been a massive month for Bradley.

Alongside juggling two wedding ceremonies, he’s managed to buy his first house and start a new job.

He’s chief operating officer at FaceMe, a Kiwi company creating Artificial Intelligence “employees”.

A team of around 30 people work for the Auckland-based company, and Bradley heads the crew charged with building the systems.

Imagine, he says, being able to walk into a bank and bypassing the queue to have your enquiry dealt with by a digital human.

“At the moment we have one at Auckland Airport in Biosecurity. They deflect questions from humans, allowing them more time for complex things or giving better service.”

Find out more

20 March 2018

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TV Host’s Comment Undermines Value Of Mothers

Source: Family First – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: TV Host’s Comment Undermines Value Of Mothers

Media Release 19 March 2018
Family First NZ is rubbishing TV3 AM Show host Mark Richardson’s comments that motherhood should not be considered a job, labelling the comments as disrespectful and potentially harmful, and ignoring the research. 

“Mothers have been undervalued. Yet there is growing evidence of profound beneficial neurobiological effects a mother’s physical presence has on her young child that cannot be achieved by anyone else. It’s significant that a childcare worker is treated as having a “job” but a full-time mother isn’t,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ. 

Family First released a report in 2012 “WHO CARES? Mothers, Daycare and Child Wellbeing in New Zealand” prepared by UK psychologist Dr Aric Sigman, an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society. Dr Sigman argues that the impression given is that mothers who do stay at home for the first few years of their child’s life confer no benefits or advantages on their child when compared to equivalent time spent in non-parental care.  

“Parental and non-parental care are presented as equal alternatives entailing nothing more than a discretionary lifestyle choice involving mere stylistic differences. In short, this means that the many mothers who have spent years at home with their children in the belief that this conferred significant benefits to them have wasted their time. Yet the uncomfortable but nagging question remains: which is generally better for a young child during weekdays – the biological mother or a paid carer at an institution? To suggest that motherhood is special is seen by some as in some way demeaning, even insulting, to women,” says Dr Sigman. 

“Why has motherhood not been viewed as an incomparable responsibility carried out by a gender with awe-inspiring qualities? If we are so concerned about sexism and being sensitive to women’s feelings about their choices, why must the negative feelings – the guilt – of some working mothers take precedence over supporting the feelings of stay-at-home mothers?” asks Dr Sigman. 

NZ’s Brainwave Trust which was formed as a response to new scientific evidence on the impact that experiences in the first 3 years have on the brain development of a child, says on its website, “The early attachment between parents and their baby creates a foundation for that child’s future relationships with others. Smiling, singing, touching and cuddling as part of attuned, responsive care is necessary to develop this part of the brain. Close, loving physical touch is crucially important. These things allow the child to develop the brain connections needed to feel empathy and care for others – an important prerequisite for healthy functioning as an adult.” 

“With respect, Mark Richardson needs to do a bit more homework,” says Mr McCoskrie.
ENDS

 

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Media Release: Rare footage of whales captured in Antarctica

Source: Antarctica New Zealand

Headline: Media Release: Rare footage of whales captured in Antarctica

Media Release

Tuesday 20 March 2018

Rare Footage of Whales Captured in Antarctica

“I’m such an excited scientist right now!”

Dr Regina Eisert, marine mammal expert at the University of Canterbury, still can’t believe the underwater footage her team captured on a recent Antarctic expedition to study killer whales.

“The whole whale glides past – this is such a lucky shot!” she says as she watches her computer screen.

With a serenity that belies its massive size, a minke whale floats gracefully through the frame. Little is known about Antarctic minke whales that can grow up to 10 m long and weigh 9 tonnes. Dr Eisert believes this may be the first time a minke whale has been filmed underwater, and in the sea ice, in the Ross Sea.

Dr Eisert is particularly excited as she didn’t think anything had been captured on a new prototype underwater camera designed by Antarctic film expert Anthony Powell of Antzworks.

“The plan was to film continuously across the icebreaker channel that is prepared for the re-supply vessel to cross McMurdo Sound. The water’s so clear, you can see right across the 50-80 m lane and monitor all the whales that use the channel,” Dr Eisert says. “Unfortunately, the system only recorded for just a few hours, due to teething problems for this new technology in the field. We had no idea that we had this footage until Anthony found it when checking the camera back in Christchurch!”

Dr Eisert’s research programme focusses on fish-eating (Type C) killer whales, but she also became interested in minke whales when she realised that they are champions of ice navigation, beating even the Type-C killer whales in their ability to infiltrate deep into McMurdo Sound.

According to IWC estimates, there are about 180,000 minke whales in Area V, the area of Southern Ocean that includes the Ross Sea region. Dr Eisert says while this species is likely to be an important part of the Ross Sea food web, little is known about their precise role in the ecosystem. Minke whales are also the only whales that are still hunted in the Southern Ocean, ostensibly for scientific purposes.  But there are other ways to study whales that cause no harm, such as photo-identification and dart biopsies.

When a minke swims by, Dr Eisert and her team take a photo – and a skin samples using a small dart.

“We can learn so much from a small tissue sample, such as their diet – we think they just eat krill, but do they eat small fish as well? Also, DNA analysis can tell us whether Ross Sea minkes are separate from other minke whales on the Antarctic Peninsula or further north, or if they are all part of one larger population,” she says.

As filter feeders that primarily target krill, Dr Eisert says minke whales feed low in the food web and follow the retreating sea ice to find the richest feeding grounds. 

“This means they’re excellent indicators of ‘ecosystem hotspots’ – particularly productive areas.  This information in turn feeds into environmental stewardship, in particular by supporting the objectives of the Ross Sea region Marine Protected Area (MPA).” 

The Ross Sea region MPA came into effect on 1 December 2017. It covers 1.55 million square kilometres, and is the world’s largest marine protected area. Ongoing research and monitoring are required to show that the MPA meets its objectives and to ensure the MPA’s continued existence.

Dr Eisert’s team travelled to Scott Base with Antarctica New Zealand in January, and she hopes analysis of the samples and images they collected will begin a valuable data set for Ross Sea minke whale research.

ENDS

The footage can be accessed here.

Megan Martin

GM Communications

Antarctica New Zealand

m.martin@antarcticanz.govt.nz

027 2205 989

For further comment on this minke whale footage, please contact:

Dr Regina Eisert

University of Canterbury

regina.eisert@canterbury.ac.nz

03 369 2060