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Story: Whales

Whale fluking

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Whale fluking

Although 22 species of whales are known to live in New Zealand waters, few are widely seen. The most visible are the sperm whales off Kaikōura, where there is a highly successful whale-watching operation. This sperm whale lifts its tail (an action known as fluking) before diving.

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New Zealand Whale and Dolphin Trust

by Steve Dawson

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How to cite this page

Gerard Hutching, Whales – Whales in New Zealand, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/7074/whale-fluking (accessed 14 June 2026).

Story by Gerard Hutching, published 2 March 2009.