On Sunday 12 July the New Zealand Sea Lion Trust (NZSL) unveiled the statue of sea lion matriarch ‘Mum’ and her pup. Around 80 people braved the cold and attended, including Robyn Aston and George McIntosh and his son from the Moturata whānau, Taieri.
‘Mum’ was the first sea lion in 150 years to give birth on the mainland some 20-years-ago along the Taieri coast. She produced pups on the Otago coast until 2010, when she disappeared at the age of 24. When ‘Mum’ first gave birth it was on or below Georges property at Taieri Mouth, George looked out for them, sometimes spending hours on the beach protecting them.
At least one pup named Whetu Rere is known to have died. Department of Conservation (DOC) ranger Jim Fyfe and NZSL Trust chairman Steve Broni hope that research into this small community of New Zealand sea lions on the Otago Peninsula could shed new light on why these critically endangered mammals are doing well here but far worse on the Auckland Islands.
George McIntosh from Taieri Mouth and Dunedin City Councillor Jinty MacTavish unveiling the statue of ‘Mum’ and her pup. Photo by, Councillor Neville Peat.
The tamariki enjoyed sitting on the statue. Photo by Neville Peat.