To date, Murihiku ki Te Tonga has completed four expeditions to the Subantarctic Islands and the Ross Sea region with partner Heritage Expeditions. Photos, videos and reports showcasing our work in the field can be found in our MKTT Media Library.

First research expedition - February 2023

Leaving from Bluff in February 2023, our team will travel due south to the Subantarctic Islands and on to the Ross Sea region of Antarctica on the Heritage Adventurer.

We will deploy advanced remote sensing technology to study whales, seals, and seabirds as key tohu (ecological indicators).

Building on mātauranga Māori, we will develop comprehensive and accurate indices for the state of a marine ecosystem increasingly impacted by fishing, climate change, and human activities. Our approach will address existing critical information gaps and provide the information needed for the effective conservation and management of the region.