Syllabus

• Week 1

  The secret lives of whales

  • Welcome to the Course!

    Welcome to the course! Let's dive in, get to know each other, and get an idea what this course is all about.

  • What is a whale?

    How did a hoofed, furred land mammal wind up with underwater descendants? And how do those descendants adapt to live in the deep sea when they still breathe air?

  • Meet the locals

    Meet some of the whale species that can be found in the waters of the South Pacific, and learn about some of the incredible habits and adaptations that make them so fascinating.

  • Lovers, friends, and foes

    The social intelligence and connections of cetaceans has long been fascinating to humans. In this article, we explore the complex communication, culture, and relationships both within whale families, and between different species.

  • Wrap up and connect

    Let's reflect on everything we covered this week

• Week 2

  Whales in Māori and Pacific cultures

  • Welcome to Week Two

    Welcome to week two!

  • Legends of tohorā

    Whales have significant cultural and spiritual significance in Māori culture, and in the wider Pacific.

  • Whale ivory taonga

    Let's dive into the Te Papa Collections to see the ways precious whalebone was (and is) used by Māori, and other cultures in the Pacific, in the production of high-status taonga (treasures) used for adornment, tools, and weaponry.

  • Gift from the sea

    Aotearoa New Zealand is a whale stranding hotspot. Though today the first response to them is conservation and rescue, for Māori they were and are considered a gift, providing rich cultural resources to local iwi (tribes).

  • Wrap up and connect

    Let's reflect on everything we covered this week

• Week 3

  There she blows

  • Welcome to Week Three

    Welcome to week three!

  • There she blows

    The peak of the whaling boom was an intense time, leading to significant social change for both Māori and settlers. Whaling became a goldrush, driving rapid industrialisation.

  • Clashes and connections

    The whaling boom brought early whalers from around the world into close contact with the indigenous Māori of Aotearoa New Zealand. This meeting of cultures took many forms; partnership, trading, marriage, and open conflict.

  • Life as a whaler

    Let's take a closer look at what life was like for early whalers, some of the products of their hard work, how the end of whaling came about, and the birth of the 'save the whales' movement.

  • Wrap up and connect

    Let's reflect on everything we covered this week.

• Week 4

  Protection in a sea of perils

  • Welcome to Week Four

    Welcome to week four!

  • Close encounters

    A brief look at some famous dolphins that have found their way into the nation's hearts and how they drove the creation of marine mammal protections in Aotearoa new Zealand.

  • Threats

    The threats facing the whales of the Pacific (and the world) today, are varied and many. Let's look at some of the biggest ones.

  • Kaitiaki/Guardians

    Despite the myriad threats facing them, there is hope for both cetacean protection in Aoteareoa and the conservation of the cultural practices associated with them, thanks to the dedication of several groups and individuals.

  • For our future

    There are larger things that can be done to protect the future of whales and dolphins, their ecosystem, and our wider world. In this section we look at just some of these

  • Wrap up and connect

    Let's reflect on everything we covered this week.

• Week 5

  Additional week for self-study

Who will you learn with?