Raising funds to support and continue the annual Great Kaikōura Whale Count!

Each year, the Kaikōura Ocean Research Institute (KORI), with the help of dedicated interns and volunteers - from locals to visitors from all over Aotearoa and the world - take part in the Great Kaikōura Whale Count. For 2025, during the entire month of June KORI will be coordinating, organizing and teaching volunteers, interns, staff and members of the public to gaze out to sea and spot the whales for conservation!

Not only is this a great way to become hands-on involved in active conservation, the data collected has proven to be invaluable. Sadly, in recent times research such as this has proven a decline in our national sperm whale numbers, with sperm whales, (amongst other species), now officially declared as “At Risk - Declining”.

But… There is still hope! Continuing this work is vital and there is a way that YOU can help. KORI is a non-profit charity and the continuation of this work and community involvement stems entirely on charitable donations and sponsorships from kind and generous humans - just like you!

Your donation not only helps us to continue the research, it allows us to directly support the people on the ground doing the mahi - including directly supporting our passionate interns that we simply couldn’t do this without!

Thank you SO much for your support - we can’t do this without you!