The New Zealand government has delayed a final decision on how best to protect one of the world's rarest dolphins. They had been looking at bringing in permanent restrictions on set nets in areas where the Hector’s dolphins are found before Christmas but the Ministry of Fisheries says as it has had more than 2,000 public submissions on the management plan for the mammals, they wants more time to consider them. There as few as 8,000 left.

There are two sub-species of Hector's dolphin - the South Island Hector's dolphin and Maui dolphins, which are found in the North Island. Maui's dolphin used to be known as North Island Hector's dolphin. They are one of the smallest marine dolphins in the world growing no more than 1.5 metres in length, the females are usually slightly larger. Hector's dolphins are found around the coast of the South Island concentrated between Haast and Farewell Spit in the west, around Banks Peninsula in the east, and Te Waewae Bay and Porpoise Bay/Te whanaga aihe in the south. Maui's dolphins are found and only on the west coast of the North Island.

It may be good the ministry is taking public feedback seriously but it's disappointing another deadline will not be met.