Check out our new paper. Humpback whales migrating north past Aotearoa New Zealand are mostly going to the winter breeding grounds of New Caledonia and east Australia. Southern migrating whales passing the Fiordland area, southwest South Island, are mostly coming from east Australia. In contrast the whales migrating past Rangitāhua (Kermadec region) in the northeast are from many different Oceania breeding grounds - particularly New Caledonia - but also there was one crazy dude that went to Panama. There's always one right! With a fully recovered east Australia population of whales, the increasing numbers observed in New Zealand waters is not surprising and will continue to grow. Oceania is about 50% recovered, so slowly getting there. This recovery reflects the indigenous knowledge about whales from Aotearoa before industrial whaling left them close to extinction and without the involvement of mana whenua this work would not have been possible. Also we acknowledge the ex-whalers of the Perano Station Joe Heberley, John Norton, Tom Norton, Basil Jones and Adrian, Peter, Ron and Ted Perano, whose work spotting whales was critical to the Cook Strait part of this research. If you have any questions get in touch with Rochelle Constantine (r.constantine@auckland.ac.nz) or Debbie Steel (debbie.steel@oregonstate.edu). Steel et al. 2025 Genetic differentiation and population connectivity of humpback whales migrating through Aotearoa New Zealand waters. Pacific Conservation Biology, 31: PC25026.https://www.publish.csiro.au/PC/PC25026 [https://www.publish.csiro.au/covers/PC_generic.jpg]<https://www.publish.csiro.au/PC/PC25026> CSIRO PUBLISHING | Pacific Conservation Biology<https://www.publish.csiro.au/PC/PC25026> Context Historically, humpback whales migrating past Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) were linked to western South Pacific wintering grounds and Antarctic feeding grounds. As populations have recovered, research has focused on contemporary connectivity patterns throughout the South Pacific.Aims To determine the contemporary connectivity of winter breeding grounds for humpback whales on their northern ... www.publish.csiro.au Abstract: Historically, humpback whales migrating past Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) were linked to western South Pacific wintering grounds and Antarctic feeding grounds. As populations have recovered, research has focused on contemporary connectivity patterns throughout the South Pacific. To determine the contemporary connectivity of winter breeding grounds for humpback whales on their northern and southern migrations past NZ, and those at the Kermadec Islands (Rangitāhua) migratory stopover. We generated DNA profiles (mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotypes, genetic sex and microsatellite genotypes) using skin samples collected from whales between 1998 and 2021. We used comparisons of DNA profiles and a mixed-stock analysis of mtDNA haplotypes to determine the most likely wintering grounds of genetically identified individuals. DNA profiles of 350 individual whales from NZ were compared to profiles from Oceania (n > 2000), Central and South America (n = 452) and East Australia (n = 809). This comparison revealed 35 genotype matches, mainly to New Caledonia and East Australia. The mixed-stock analysis showed that northbound whales (n = 145) had approximately equal assignment proportions to East Australia and New Caledonia whereas southbound whales (n = 74) showed a two-fold higher assignment to East Australia. In contrast, whales passing Rangitāhua (n = 112) assigned to New Caledonia and other Pacific wintering grounds but not to East Australia. Humpback whales passing mainland NZ on their north and southbound migrations are strongly associated with East Australia and New Caledonia wintering grounds. Those migrating south past Rangitāhua have a broader range of wintering ground destinations, including a connection to Central America. Rochelle Constantine ONZM, Professor | Ahorangi, Marine Ecology & Conservation Biology Te Kura Mātauranga Koiora | School of Biological Sciences Te Whare Takiura Mātai Pūtaiao Moana | Institute of Marine Science Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland Aotearoa | New Zealand p. +64 (0) 27 457 4909 w. https://profiles.auckland.ac.nz/r-constantine t. @MMEG_UoA<https://twitter.com/MMEG_UoA>