Project Jonah - Saving Whales Since 1974

Everyone knows Project Jonah- or do they? Ponsonby News met the GM of this registered charity to find out exactly what they do.

First of all we must say, Project Jonah is extremely fortunate to have such a charismatic and enthusiastic leader as Daren Grover. No wonder New Zealanders flock in their hundreds to help with whale strandings, which is at the pointy end of Daren’s job.


Although Daren Grover lives in Freeman’s Bay, he travels all over New Zealand to whale strandings. Recently nearly 200 pilot whales stranded on Farewell Strip in Golden Bay, a hot spot for stranding, Daren explained to us. Only 68 were able to be saved.


Ponsonby News joked to Daren that he should move to sunny Golden Bay so he could be closer to potential strandings. Daren laughed and agreed it is a lovely part of New Zealand to spend the summer, but said that as soon as they moved there Murphy’s Law would kick in and there would be a stranding in the far North, like one in Pawarengarenga Harbour a few years ago. So, like earthquakes, whale strandings are very unpredictable.


Project Jonah exists for one simple reason-marine mammals desperately need our help. Their vision is to create a world where these animals are respected and protected. Project Jonah’s strength comes from its army of volunteers. That is how Daren Grover started. He did a Marine Mammals Medic course and was hooked. After volunteer stints and a short contract with Project Jonah, Daren got the GM’s job. That was four years ago and his enthusiasm has clearly not waned.


Project Jonah says on its website that it prides itself on being passionate, honest, open and down to earth-characteristics that sum up Daren Grover, their General Manager, very well. As a voluntary organisation Project Jonah needs to do a lot with very little. They have a ‘just let’s do it,’ philosophy.


While it is animals that are central to their work it is people who make their work possible, and that is Daren’s skill and background-he is a people person and it showed in our interview.

Most New Zealanders think our beaches are safe, but Daren explained that dealing with wild animals on rocky or difficult beaches is not easy. It is instruction in dealing with the whales and keeping both themselves and the animals safe that educates public.

Project Jonah has developed specialist equipment to help them save whales, and Daren reports how excited he was to hear that a major stranding in Scotland featured New Zealand equipment, which is now used globally.

Daren Grover remembers being told at school that whales would be extinct by the time he was 30. He is glad that his teacher was wrong. He quoted figures for humpback whales migrating along the coast of Australia. Not many years ago the numbers were about 1000, now 15,000 are filing past the Australian coast each year.


Nobody really knows why whales strand. But whatever the reasons, Project Jonah aims to prevent animals stressing, and aims to move them to safety, reorient the animals, release them, and continue to monitor them to safety. If you are the first on the scene of a stranding, contact DOC immediately on 0800 DOCHOT. To keep animals calm avoid loud noises, keep dogs and small children away, and make no unnecessary movements. Help will arrive very quickly as qualified volunteers are notified.

We love the mantra on the website—donate, report, become, like us. Hopefully we will never forget our obligations to the more vulnerable of our animal cousins. Daren Grover, Ponsonby News thanks you for the important work that you do throughout New Zealand.

www.projectjonah.org.nz