Large pod of dolphins in Oriental Bay, Wellington, delights onlookers

Onlookers were delighted to spot about 100 dolphins swimming in Wellington’s Oriental Bay this afternoon.

“They came through very quickly just before the storm front hit at lunchtime,” said photographer Sean Gillespie.

The large pod can be seen detouring past the Carter Fountain.

A spokeswoman at Niwa said the dolphins came past their office “so a lot of us went out to look at them”.

Department of Conservation marine technical adviser Hannah Hendricks said it was the biggest pod she had seen.

She said they were spotted in the harbour and on the south coast of Wellington.

They were common dolphins and were not unusual to see around Wellington, though normally they were spotted more in summer.

While she had never seen a larger pod, pods in other areas of the country, such as the Hauraki Gulf, could reach 1000-strong, she said.

Dolphins swimming near Carter Fountain in Wellington's Oriental Bay on May 9, 2023. Photo / Supplied

DoC reminded people the rules for operating boats around dolphins included travelling no faster than idle or “no wake” speed within 300m of a marine mammal, and making sure no more than three vessels, including aircraft, were within 300m.

It’s not uncommon for Wellingtonians to spot sea life in the harbour. In April last year a pod of dolphins was spotted leaping alongside Centreport’s container terminal.

About a month earlier a smaller pod came into the harbour on a perfectly still evening and played in the water outside Te Papa, much to the joy of those walking along the waterfront.

The harbour also was home to a southern right whale in 2018, prompting the postponement of a Matariki fireworks display.

The whale, nicknamed Matariki by some because of its appearance in the lead-up to the Māori new year, spent a week frolicking in the harbour.

Police had to remind drivers not to stop on the motorway to watch the whale.

“Wellingtonians have fallen in love with this whale – this taonga - and they’ve been telling us they don’t want anything untoward to happen to it. The whale’s presence is a true blessing for Matariki,” said acting mayor Jill Day.

The fireworks display was postponed to avoid any stress on the whale.