Mohua / Golden Bay is one of the world’s whale stranding hotspots. It is also a place where the local community has stepped up time and again to help.

Thanks to support from the Top of the South Community Foundation and our donors, more people in Golden Bay now have the skills and confidence to respond when a stranding happens.

Project Jonah has been protecting and supporting whales and dolphins in Aotearoa for more than 50 years. Its work includes rescue, education and advocacy, with a strong focus on giving everyday people the skills to help.

In December 2025, Project Jonah brought its one-day Marine Mammal Medic course to Mohua / Golden Bay.

The course combines classroom learning with practical training. Participants learn how to safely assist stranded whales and dolphins, what to expect at a stranding, and how to support both the animals and the wider rescue effort.

Funding from the Top of the South Community Foundation and our donors helped cover the cost of bringing this training to Golden Bay.

That local training matters. When a stranding happens, time is important. Having trained people already in the community means there are more locals ready to help while the wider response gets underway.

Participants also leave with skills they can carry with them for years to come. They know how to respond safely, what role they can play and how to support others during what can be a stressful and emotional situation.

The course is part of Project Jonah’s wider Community Whale Rescue Programme, which is building a network of trained volunteers around Aotearoa.

For people in Te Tauihu who would like to get involved, there are a number of options. You can train as a Marine Mammal Medic, follow Project Jonah’s work, sign up for its newsletter or support the organisation with a donation. More courses are planned for summer 2026.

We are grateful to the donors who helped make this training possible.

Their generosity has helped build practical skills in a community that may one day need them, giving more people in Te Tauihu the confidence to step in and help our marine mammals when it matters most.

I can also make this slightly more story-led and less formal if you want it to feel closer to TSCF’s recent grant recipient blogs.