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Official Guardian of the Maui's & Hector's Dolphins
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Click here if you are unable to navigateIt's a big, beautiful world out there and isn't it good to know you can do your bit towards keeping it that way. It's the little things, such as choosing eco-friendly brands to use around your home like Down To Earth.
Down To Earth has been giving New Zealanders a greener household cleaning option since 1989. We were first to launch a safer, sustainable alternative to the harsh chemical cleaners around at that time, and today our range continues to lead the way in delivering brilliant results at an affordable price, while caring for you and the environment.
* No Phosphates. Contains no added phosphorus. Levels below 0.5% may be present. Phosphate free products are less damaging in river systems because phosphate promotes algal growth which can clog up rivers.
**Down to Earth helps to minimise waste in the environment as the surfactants are readily biodegradable and fully conform to Australian Standard AS4351.
*** Recycled & Recyclable packets. Down to Earth packets are made from 95% recycled fibre, and are 100% recyclable. Down to Earth laundry and tablets packets, and the laundry and dish wash bottles are 100% recyclable(as are the caps, where facilities exist). The scoop in our laundry powder is also 100% recyclable.
Now you can get a greener, more powerful clean in every corner of your home with the Down to Earth range.
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At Down to Earth, we’re not only passionate about safeguarding the planet we’re also concerned about protecting the precious species on it.
As such we are proud to be Forest & Bird’s Official Guardian of the critically endangered Maui’s and endangered Hector’s dolphins. With our ongoing support, Forest & Bird can further their conservation efforts by safeguarding the current population of these rare and special animals*, educating schoolchildren, the public and fishermen, and lobbying Government for ongoing protection programmes.
*At this moment in time the Maui’s dolphin is in a critical position as their population is estimated at just 111 individuals and may include fewer than 60 mature animals, with only an estimated 25 breeding females. The Hector’s dolphin is also under extreme threat, with the population having declined to just above 7000 individuals (down from an estimated 27,000 just 35 years ago).
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Maui’s and Hector’s dolphins are unique to New Zealand. They are only found off the coast of New Zealand. They are our very own dolphins. Both the South Island Hector’s dolphin and the Maui’s dolphin are listed internationally as species threatened with extinction.
Yes and No...The North Island Hector’s dolphins - Maui’s dolphins - were once called Hector’s dolphins. However Maui’s became separated from their South Island cousins (and stayed apart) so that now the North Island Hector’s are genetically distinct from the South Island Hector’s.
The female Maui’s and Hector’s dolphins only produce one calf every 2 to 4 years and do not start breeding until they are 7 to 9 years old. This slow rate of reproduction makes Hector's dolphin populations vulnerable to deaths caused by human activities such as fishing.
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When you choose Down to Earth, you know you are choosing a brand with integrity. We are passionate about protecting the planet, therefore each of our products has been specifically formulated to maximise performance while minimising the environmental impact.
NO PHOSPHATES – Down to Earth is less damaging to waterways and river systems because it is completely phosphate-free.
BIODEGRADABLE – Down to Earth helps to minimise waste in the environment as the surfactants are readily biodegradable and fully conform to Australian Standard AS4351.
NO ANIMAL TESTING – Down to Earth has not been tested on animals.
RECYCLED PACKAGING – Down to Earth packets are made from 95% recycled fibre, and are 100% recyclable.
RECYCLABLE PACKAGING – Down to Earth laundry and tablets packets, and the laundry and dish wash bottles are 100% recyclable (as are the caps, where facilities exist). The scoop in our laundry powder is also 100% recyclable.GREY WATER AND SEPTIC TANK FRIENDLY – Recommended water from washing machine rinse cycle only. Not recommended from dishwasher cycle.
There are a number of threats to Hector’s dolphins, including boat strikes, trawling and pollution, but the main threat is set netting. Dolphins are accidentally caught in the set nets and drown. The Maui’s and Hector’s dolphin populations can’t afford any more deaths from fishing.
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Set nets (used in commercial, recreational and customary fishing) are responsible for more than 60 per cent of all known deaths (where the cause of death is known).
These nets are used to catch fish in coastal waters, which is where Maui’s and Hector's dolphins live.
Set nets are indiscriminate: as well as dolphins they kill a wide range of other marine mammals and seabirds, and other species of fish that fishers do not intend to catch.
A study by NIWA, the Ministry of Fisheries and fishing industry representatives (March 2008) shows that 110-150 (estimated) Hector’s dolphins are killed in commercial set nets every year.
Trawling also catches fish indiscriminately - many are unwanted species that are not targeted by fishers (including dolphins and fur seals).
Although trawling is a less significant threat to the Maui’s and Hector’s than set netting, trawling does impact these dolphin populations. For example in April, 2006, three Hector’s dolphins were caught by one single commercial trawl vessel around the Marlborough Sounds.
A much lesser threat but nonetheless a killer is boat strike – where dolphins are sliced by the propeller of careless boats. Marine Mammal protection rules require boats to slow down or dolphins. But accidents still happen.
