Opo the dolphin

Opononi lies in the Hokianga Harbour on the west coast of Northland, NZ

The Hokianga Harbour, also known as the Hokianga River, extends inland for 30 kms from the Tasman Sea

Opononi is a settlement on the south shore of Hokianga Harbour

Within a week, only one of the three dolphins appeared; the other two presumed likely killed (possibly mother & sibling)

Fishermen, now aware it was a dolphin, began to look for it when they entered & left the harbour

The dolphin began to swim closer to their rowboats, follow them, & swim underneath & alongside

When one fisherman placed an oar in the water, the dolphin would rub its back against it

Always alone, the dolphin continued to make constant contact with the fishermen in the rowboats

Fisherman Piwai Toi describes his first encounter in June 1955 & later contact (Te Ao Hou, No.23 July 1958, pp.22-24)

Presuming the dolphin was male, initially it was named "Opononi Jack" which was shortened to "Opo Jack"

It was named after Pelorus Jack who accompanied ships in Marlborough Sounds from 1882-1912

"Opononi Jack" & "Opo Jack" were then shortened to "Opo"

According to Northern iwi, Polynesian navigator Kupe arrived in NZ at Hokianga after crossing the Pacific from Hawaiki

He named the area Te Puna o-te-ao-mārama – the spring of the world of light - because of light reflected from the hills

Later on, when returning to Hawaiki, he named the harbour - Hokianga-nui-a-kupe - the final departure place of Kupe

Gradually, Opo began to swim closer, and then began to swim amongst them

When Jill stood in the water with her legs apart, Opo would swim between them & carry her for a short distance

Letter from Jill Baker describing the friendship between Opo & herself, 22 March 1956

Opo would let small children ride on her back & would also nibble toes (Image: Jill holding a child for a short ride)

Opo would balance the ball on her snout & toss it into the air

Photographs of Opo's playfulness appeared in the newspapers nationwide and she became a drawcard to visit Opononi

Photographer Eric Lee-Johnson supplied photos to the New Zealand Herald & Auckland Weekly News

Filmaker Rudall Hayward also captured film of Opo

"The amazing dolphin of Opononi" (1956: 9:17 min) filmed by Rudall Hayward was shown in 26 countries

Visitors began to arrive from all over NZ by car on the unsealed roads to Opononi to see Opo

They also journeyed by bus, taxi & trucks

Some arrived on the beach via amphibian plane operated by NZ Tourist Air Travel since June 1955

Holidaymakers stayed at the camping ground at Opononi

Others stayed at the Opononi Hotel which was often booked out

Local businesses flourished

Opo's friendliness led to her being called the "Gay Dolphin" & a brochure appeared with the alliteration "Gay Golphin"

Brochure "Opo the Gay 'Golphin' of Opononi" by Frank Robson contained 69 photos & was printed by the “News” in 1956

Concerns arose with some people jostling Opo for attention, & three men reportedly tried to drag her up the beach

Others would jab Opo with oars; & she was hit by a propellor receiving two cuts; & shot at when mistaken for a shark

Those keeping vigil over Opo's welfare were a member of the SPCA & a Justice of the Peace

Opononi Gay Dolphin Protection Committee was formed & signs were put up with the alliteration 'Gay Golphin'

The Committee lobbied the Marine Dept for protection for Opo

Marine Dpt staff stated dolphins could not be protected under The Fisheries Act 1908 as they were mammals not fish

Min. of Marine John McAlpine instructed Marine Dpt to draft an Order in Council to protect dolphins in Hokianga Harbour

The Fisheries (Dolphin Protection) Regulations 1956 were issued on 7 March 1956, & gazetted at midnight on 8 March

The Regulations made it unlawful to ‘take or molest any dolphin in the Hokianga Harbour’ & carried a 50 pound fine

Opo was last seen at Opononi the evening of Thurs 8 March 1856 & a search was carried out early in the morning on Friday

It was reported Opo had been seen by a fishing boat at 2.30am & bus passengers at 7.30am two miles south of Opononi

An NBC film crew from the US had arrived that same day to film Opo & flew off on hearing Opo was missing

Opo's body was found at noon jammed in a rocky crevice at low tide at Koutu Point by farmer Don Boyce collecting mussels

The rocks are 3 miles up-river from Opononi & also known by the name given by Kupe: Ngā Kurī-a-Kupe (Kupe’s dog)

Opo's body was cut badly down one side & towed by launch back to Opononi by 7pm, where she was met by a grieving crowd

Opo was draped in sacking for protection whilst awaiting examination by Auckland Museum's zoologist Mr E. G. Turbott

Opo was also examined by Mr Tayor (Marine Dpt Fisheries inspector, Dargaville) & Mr Aikin (SPCA Officer, Dargaville)

Turbott identified Opo as a female bottlenose dolphin - a toothed whale in genus Tursiops - & plaster casts were taken

Letters & telegrams of sympathy were sent to Opononi, including by Governor-General Sir Willoughby Norrie

Media reported Opo may have became stranded in a narrow-rock pool when tide receded & cut herself trying to get free

There was also speculation that Opo had been killed by fishermen using gelignite, or died by suicide as lacked a mate

Opo's grave was dug beside the Opononi Memorial Hall

A five-year old girl represented all the children of Hokianga when throwing sand into Opo's grave

An account of the funeral held on Monday 12 March 1956 was given in newspapers

Opo's grave was decked with flowers

Christchurch sculptor Russell Clark was commissioned to make the statue of a boy & dolphin that stands near Opo's grave

Two models by Clark were sent to Eric Lee-Johnson, Gordon Andrews & Bill Yakas to choose between

The selected statue was carved by Russell Clark in Hinuera stone and finished in Jan 1960

When the stone statue (pictured) was damaged in Oct 2011, a bronze casting was unveiled two years later on 14 Sept 2013

NZ's National Film Unit presents 'Pictorial Parade No. 47' (1956) includes "The life of Opo"

Ballad on Opo the Dolphin by Mr J. Charles, host of the Opononi Hotel (Jan 1967)

Maurice Shadbolt's novel "This summer's dolphin" (1969) said to be based on Opo

Dramatised documentary: NZOnScreen: Opo (1991) (4 hrs 10 mins)

Poster for exhibition: Opo: The Hokianga Dolphin by Eric Lee-Johnson, Auckland Art Gallery (2 Dec 1994 - 6 Feb 1995)

McGlashan's lyrics for "Miracle Sun" includes references to Opo, the 'friendly' dolphin (2006)

On 50th anniversary, Eric Lee-Johnson's photos displayed at Opononi Resort Hotel, Hokianga Museum & Whangarei Art Museum

YouTube (2012): Roadside Stories: Opononi, home of Opo (4:52 mins)

Audio: True Crime New Zealand: Tales 1: Opo the friendly dolphin, (24 Sept 2021) (17:31 min)