Moko a summer crowd pleaser

Eager fans line up to greet and stroke Moko the dolphin as he plays games with local man Tony Lewin. Photo / Beck Vass

No one knows why Moko the dolphin prefers humans to his own kind.

But everyone in Gisborne - both locals and visitors alike - are delighted he does.

Moko is a loner. At night when he should be sleeping at sea with other dolphins around him for protection, Moko rests up alongside a buoy just off Waikanae Beach.

And in the day, instead of cruising about with some pod mates, he hangs out with humans.

This week he charmed an audience he attracted at the tidal spot where Gisborne's three rivers - the Taruheru, Waimata and Turanganui - meet.

Moko took a particular shine to Gisborne commercial fisherman Tony Lewin, playing with him and nudging Mr Lewin's body board and floating tube for several hours.

It was not Mr Lewin's first encounter with Moko.

"He spent three days and nights at sea with us," he said.

"He follows us in the harbour every time we come in. We throw him a buoy and he taps our feet under the boat."

Mr Lewin said he was lost for words with his up-close encounter with the dolphin: "You can't describe it really."

"It's unexplainable," said Mr Lewin's partner, Linda Green, who was also in the water with him.

"It's something that you'll never get to do in your life again."

Spectators yesterday said they were stunned that Moko was so friendly.

Children stood nearby, excitedly touching Moko as he swam to them, some running away screaming "shark" as his fin shot towards them on the surface of the water as he flipped and turned.

"He feels like a balloon," another child said excitedly after touching him.

Department of Conservation ranger Jamie Quirk said the department was working hard advising people not to touch Moko - to protect both Moko and his fans.

Businesses have banded together to create "Moko Watch", which ensures lifeguards are keeping an eye on him for 10 hours a day to make sure he's not harmed.

"Moko is a wild animal and as a wild animal, he's unpredictable," Mr Quirk said.

He and other experts remain baffled by Moko's human interactions, which have even involved giving people presents.

"He gave a guy a 13kg snapper once. He's given king fish, kahawai. He caught an eel here before but he didn't give it to anyone. He's given people seahorses too ... [but] you talk to any dairy farmer and they'll tell you they have cows in a herd that are different. And human beings - we're no different. We have hermits. It's just probably more uncommon."

Locals spoken to by the Herald yesterday were unanimous. They love Moko but are very protective of him.

"I think it's great but I wish people would leave him alone," Peter Scott said.

"It's going to be a repeat of Opo in the end, someone will get tanked and do something stupid. People can see him - they don't have to touch him."

Local businesswoman Heather McFarlane agrees: "We're in his domain."

Asked how Moko's presence had been received by locals, she said: "They're very happy about it, they're just concerned that something might happen."

* What do do around Moko

Don't approach Moko - let him come to you.

Don't encircle him.

Don't attempt to ride or be towed by him.

Fingernails and jewellery can scratch Moko.

Do not wear sunscreen - the chemicals could affect his skin.

Don't give him toys - he could later get stuck in nets thinking they are also toys.

Source: Department of Conservation