Opononi

Opononi: In June 1955 a young female bottle-nosed dolphin was sighted off shore from Opononi. During the summer she came close inshore and started to interact with the bathers. She used to balance a beach ball or a beer bottle on her nose and even allowed children to ride a short way on her back. She was named 'Opo', people flocked to tiny resort to see her and a folk song was even written about her.

It is unusual to see a lone dolphin and it was assumed that she became separated from her pod and sought human company from loneliness or boredom.

So great was the human interest, that conservationists became worried for her safety and petitioned the government to publish an Order-in-Council protecting her. The order came into effect 8 March 1956. The day after, Opo was found dead wedged in rocks. It was never clear whether she died as a result of an accident or was killed.

Opo was buried by the beach at Opononi and a statue by Russell Clark was erected to commemorate this special animal. So, 2006 was the 50th anniversary not the centenary!