photo is taken from the whale declaration website

We are happy to share this great and very important news.

He Whakaputanga Moana is the first Declaration recognizing whales as sentient beings with inherent rights.

Grounded in Te Ao Māori teachings and Polynesian values, the Declaration recognizes whales as both ancestors and sentient beings. It acknowledges the interconnectedness of all beings, humanity’s responsibility to act as a guardian for the ocean’s health, and Pacific peoples’ deep connection to the ocean and right to self-determination in the context of managing and protecting ancestral waters.

The Declaration was signed on March 28, 2024 in Rarotonga, Cook Islands by Indigenous leaders including the late Māori King Tūheitia Potatau Te Wherowhero VII (Aotearea) and Tou Travel Ariki (Cook Islands).

On February 5, 2026, the Declaration was be publicly released in Waitangi, Aotearoa New Zealand, marking the beginning of a global movement to implement its vision.

photo is taken from the whale declaration website

He Whakaputanga Moana moves beyond symbolic gestures to establish concrete protections.

• Recognizes that whales possess inherent rights essential for their existence, thriving, and flourishing in healthy marine ecosystems
• Guarantees whales legal representation and standing in decision-making processes
• Requires that whale interests and values be integrated into management and policy
• Calls for the establishment and expansion of marine protected areas
• Empowers community participation and collaboration in ocean stewardship

You can download the Declaration here: He Whakaputanga Moana Whale Protection and Legal Personhood Declaration

Or you can visit the website: Declaration

To bring the Declaration to life and ensure that its principles result in meaningful and lasting impact, Hinemoana Halo has partnered with New York University’s More-Than-Human Life (MOTH) Program, and Project CETI (Cetacean Translation Initiative).

* May our collaborative efforts inspire others to join us in this endeavor, creating a global wave of change for the well-being of whales and the health of our shared oceans.