Zoe spent the years from age nine to nineteen in Aotearoa (New Zealand) and was influenced strongly by the experience. When approaching the remote island by sea, New Zealand forms a graceful arch along a curved horizon. White clouds collect above the land mass, creating a strikingly beautiful visual. In awe of this, the indigenous Māori people named New Zealand Aotearoa, The Land of the Long White Cloud. When Zoe’s family first moved to NZ they traveled by sea. She likes to think her first memory of the island is like that of Māori, so many years ago. Zoe bonded with the island through the spirit of sweet spring lambs.
Saving New Zealand's Critically Endangered Maui's Dolphin
A passionate dolphin advocate, Zoe is working with leading activists, scientists, and environmental organizations around the world to help save the Critically Endangered Maui's Dolphin, New Zealand's only endemic dolphin, and the smallest dolphin in the world.
“New Zealand is knowingly allowing an extinction. With only 55 Maui dolphin remaining, we are left no choice but to take strong action on a global level. Wiping out any species for the sake of perceived revenue loss is never, ever OK—let alone a dolphin species. Let alone a dolphin species endemic to your own country, sacred to your county’s native people, beloved by the citizens of the country you lead. Shame on New Zealand.” - Zoe Helene
Dolphins are Sacred to the Māori People of New Zealand
Dolphins are sacred to the Māori people, and Maui is an important deity. Maui created the North Island of Aotearoa (New Zealand) where the Maui dolphin lives. The North Island is known as Te Ika-a-Māui (The Fish of Māui). Māori names for Hector's and Maui's dolphin include Tutumairekurai, Tupoupou and Popoto.
“It is true what you say about the dolphin, they are our (Ngati Wai) tribal guardians and as such we have always had a close and spiritual connection with them. They are our tribal protectors on the moana (sea) and our people have a special ability to speak with them, so naturally we too are very concerned.” - Deirdre Nehua, Maori Poet, Activist and Seer
Kauri Trees Hold Secrets to Climate Change
The kauri is a hardwood tree, and grows to a huge proportion. Some kauri trees have measured as much as fifty feet or more in diameter, yielding hundreds of tons of timber each. Especially in the 1800s and early 1900s, cutting down kauri trees for ship-building, home construction, and post wood was a big industry in New Zealand. At The Kauri Museum in Matakohe, New Zealand, biologist Dr. Jonathan Palmer explains a novel approach to assessing global climate change - by analyzing the rings of ancient kauri trees. (New Zealand Medicine Hunter Expedition)
Sweet Spirit of Spring Lambs
Zoe spent the years from age nine to nineteen in Aotearoa (New Zealand) and was influenced strongly by the experience. When Zoe’s family first moved to the far, faraway island, Zoe bonded with the island through the spirit of sweet spring lambs.