NHNZ and Our Big Blue Backyard need your help!

Media Release
8 May 2013

NHNZ and Our Big Blue Backyard need your help!

Have you seen the orca?

NHNZ, New Zealand’s premiere documentary production house, is currently producing Our Big Blue Backyard, a six-part series for TVNZ that will show the amazing underwater world that’s right on New Zealand’s doorstep.

NHNZ Executive Producer Judith Curran says the production team is scouring the coasts of the country to find the most amazing marine wildlife, from the biggest whales to the tiniest shrimp.

“But we need everyone’s help! We are currently tracking the elusive Orca, New Zealand’s top predator – one who is known to even eat sharks for breakfast. They are typically seen in groups of between 6 – 12 animals, throughout the country, and at this time of the year they are often spotted around the Northland coast where they come inshore to hunt their favourite food – stingrays.

And to get the shots that will feature in the series, which all New Zealanders will see, we need all those on the coastline of the North Island to think of us when they look out to the ocean and see whales.”

Throughout April to September, NHNZ have teamed up with the Orca Research Trust to capture orca behaviour using the latest in camera technology. The team hopes to document behaviours which have never been filmed before. The footage will contribute to on-going research as scientists strive to understand more about these misunderstood creatures, as well as bringing stunning original shots to the documentary.

If you see Orca, please call the Orca Hotline on 0800 SEE ORCA (0800 733 6722). Your call will go to the Orca Research Trust and help valuable orca conservation alongside NHNZ’s efforts to document behaviours of these incredible animals. To learn more about orca check out www.orcaresearch.org

Check out Our Big Blue Backyard facebook page.

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