Pro-surfer Dave Rastovich was here to help save the threatened Maui's dolphin, but in the end it was them who helped him.
Rastovich completed a daunting 350km sea-paddle from Cape Taranaki to Piha today and told an excited crowd of locals that he had had a great experience with the world's smallest known species of dolphin, which is critically endangered.
Auckland-born Australian Rastovich said a pod of Maui dolphins had helped him navigate the notorious Manukau bar.
"When I got to Manukau I had eight Maui dolphins show up. They swam with me and one bumped my board. They gave me the confidence to get me over the bar. It was amazing. There are only 55 left and so eight of them is a seventh of their population," he said.
He had been struck by how caring Kiwis were. "It's amazing. This is how much the people care about this beautiful coastline. I'm so grateful to be here at this special place. There were times when I didn't think the ocean wanted to bring me back to shore. I'm feeling physically tired and emotional and my shoulder is killing me," he said.
