Māori and Pacific leaders, including the Māori king, signed He Whakaputanga Moana in Rarotonga earlier this week.
They say whales are a canary in the coalmine for the health of our oceans, and the world needs to act urgently to protect these taonga by giving them legal personhood - a move seen before in New Zealand in the protection of Te Urewera and the Whanganui River.
Mere Takoko is the vice president of Conservation International Aotearoa and she joins Mark Leishman to explain the campaign.
A southern right whale tail slapping in Port Ross, Auckland islands. Photo: University of Auckland southern right whale research team 2009
