Gemma McGrath has combined her passion for music with her passion for New Zealand's rare native dolphins in Music 4 Mauis, a compilation CD featuring 11 tracks from various artists including the Black Seeds, Minuit, Fur Patrol, Pitch Black and Sola Rosa.
"It's so exciting. The design is so beautiful."
Heading out on a two-week tour today to promote the CD and the dolphins' plight to schools and music shops around the country, Ms McGrath hoped it would help smooth the controversy surrounding the Government's new regulations to protect the dolphins and raise awareness that more needed to be done to fully protect the species.
A University of Otago masters student, she and Associate Prof Liz Slooten, of the New Zealand Whale and Dolphin Trust, have united with conservation groups WWF, Care for the Wild and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society on the issue.
More albums, featuring Shapeshifter, Tiki, Hollie Smith and many more artists, were planned, she said.
Proceeds from and donations generated by the album will benefit Music 4 Mauis charity and the New Zealand Whale and Dolphin Trust.
