Hector for Hector's, a partnership between Department of Conservation and the community of Hector

Hector for Hector's arose out of a Conservation Awareness project initiated by the Department of Conservation's (DOC) Buller area office's rural advocate.

The issue was that fewer than 4000 Hector's dolphins were left in the world, with some populations under threat from drowning in the set nets used in recreational fishing off the coast from Hector, a small West Coast town.

The goal of the project was to promote awareness of the conservation value of Hector's dolphins and their vulnerability to set nets in the Buller area.

One of the main actions to achieve this conservation goal was to promote Hector's dolphin as a potential icon for the Northern Buller region.

DOC's local approach was three-fold, involving:

• engaging recreational fishers through meetings and visits to their homes
• educating people through information sheets, displays, school visits and news stories about the value of Hector's dolphins and the threats to their existence
• involving people in the solution.

A preliminary meeting was held with the Northern Buller Communities Society to propose the idea of an open day in Hector to raise awareness and to celebrate Hector's dolphins. The presentation was well received. A community meeting was arranged for the Northern Buller area and the ideas of an open day and icon were suggested.

Working group leadership

A working group took the lead on the preservation project, held an open day in the town, had a sculpture of the dolphin created for the centre of the town, and adopted the dolphin as their symbol. For the next six weeks the group met regularly and planned and organised the first Hector's Dolphin Day, in May 2001.

Since the first open day, the group has continued to meet and is planning further action to ensure the protection of Hector's dolphins, including lobbying for marine protection and establishing a viewing site in Hector. 

A DOC Conservation with Communities ranger assisted the group to draft a strategic plan. Hector for Hector's is an interest-based community group and is relatively informal. Hector for Hector's has sub-committee status under the Northern Buller Communities Incorporated Society and there is a small membership fee. The group also receives funding from Pub Charities.

The DOC Conservation with Communities ranger originally acted as group facilitator but this role evolved and the ranger is now a participant. The group sets its own direction and priorities for their site enhancement project and DOC then provides support for the group to undertake this work.

What is working for the group?

"A couple [of members] have dropped off but we haven't pushed for new people - we're quite comfortable with us. What if [new members] have varying ideas to us?  We've had that with past members who had their own agenda. It didn't work … different people will change the outlook of the group."

"We had three meetings before we went out - that's too many as you get practical people coming along. If I was doing it I'd have one meeting and then get out - so everyone gets their hands dirty."

"If there were too many meetings it would drive me nuts - I like action."

In saying that, participants also enjoy the social benefits of having regular meetings.

As the Conservation with Communities ranger explains about Hector for Hector's project:

"I am the DOC liaison person on the group - a facilitator. I am DOC support and am part of the group. With all the groups, I go in and facilitate, get it running on its own steam, and then I become a member of the group like the others. I do occupy a no-man's land - it's very important to keep to that. I wouldn't come in uniform." 

Group members value the active role the Conservation with Communities ranger takes in the projects. A member of Hector for Hector's commented:

"We wouldn't want DOC to drop out of the picture; we want DOC's involvement at this level. I don't see the Conservation with Communities ranger as DOC - I see him as a fellow member. 

"[In relation to] DOC's level of involvement, we don't want more; we have control of what is going on. We feel that they are a servant to us, rather than us working for them. DOC sparked the initiative … if DOC had too much involvement it would turn the community off." 

The group also focuses on the priorities of group members rather than those of DOC. According to the DOC ranger working with the group, the focus is on practical action rather than on drawn-out meetings.

A key reason for the success of the group is that all of the members care for the Hector's dolphins. They come from different backgrounds but, in this instance, they share a common concern for a vulnerable species - and they have a lot of fun doing it.

For more information, contact:
Jessica Reedy
Conservation with Communities Ranger
Department of Conservation Buller Area Office
PO Box 357, Westport
Tel: (03) 788 8008
Fax: (03) 3788 8009
jreedy@doc.govt.nz

This case study was prepared for publication in September 2005.