OUR PROJECTS
Transforming ocean conservation by uniting ancestral Indigenous stewardship with advanced marine science across the Pacific.
At Te Moananui Sanctuary, our initiatives go beyond traditional conservation. We are building a vast, interconnected network of safe havens across the Pacific, driven by the recognition that whales are sovereign climate regulators essential to planetary health. By advocating for the legal personhood of these apex climate engineers, our work safeguards the ocean's greatest guardians and the Indigenous communities who steward these waters.
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Our dynamic projects transform this vision into decisive action. From the satellite surveillance of WHALE ARC™ and trans-Pacific eDNA research of the ĀVEI MOANA™ expedition, to the grassroots ecological auditing of MAURI MAPS™ and global youth advocacy of POD GUARDIANS™, every effort is interconnected. Together, they provide the critical data and community-led enforcement necessary to enact dynamic rāhui (customary protections) and restore the vital pulse of our shared moana.
ĀVEI MOANA™
ONE OCEAN | ONE PULSE
Serving as the sanctuary’s active trans-Pacific research voyages, these efforts gather critical, on-the-water environmental DNA (eDNA) samples. The voyages ground-truth satellite data while fostering direct, hands-on collaboration between researchers and Pacific Island communities
WHALE ARC™
REAL TIME TRACKING | RAPID RESPONSE
This advanced monitoring platform tracks whale movements across the Pacific using real-time satellite imagery and drone surveillance. By mapping these migratory routes, the system enables rapid responses to imminent threats like vessel strikes and fishing gear entanglements, merging modern ocean science with traditional stewardship.
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MAURI MAPS™
OCEAN VOICES | IINDIGENOUS GUARDIANS
Led by local ocean guardians (kaitiaki), this grassroots initiative maps biological carbon sinks and conducts continuous ecological audits. Prioritising community-led data collection ensures Indigenous data sovereignty and provides the precise evidence needed to enact and enforce dynamic rāhui (customary marine protections).
POD GUARDIANS™
DEEP KNOWLEDGE | GLOBAL INFLUENCE
The Pod Guardians Programme is designed to scale dynamically alongside the Āvei Moana™ trans-Pacific research expedition. As the voyage visits different communities across Polynesia, new youth pods will form in these critical whale habitats, linking them with students in capital cities worldwide where public opinion and policy are shaped. Over time, this will cultivate a formidable, interconnected global network of young ocean guardians bridging frontline ecology with centers of political influence.
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