Opo (dolphin)

Opo was a bottlenose dolphin who became famous throughout New Zealand during the summers of 1955 to 1956 for playing with the children of the small town of Opononi on the Hokianga harbour.

Unlike the majority of dolphins, she had no qualms about human company, and would perform stunts for locals, play with objects like beach balls and beer bottles, and allow children to swim alongside her and make contact.

[1][3] Her death was reported nationwide, and she was buried with full Māori honours in a special plot next to the Opononi War Memorial Hall.

[9] Following vandalism this was replaced by a bronze casting in 2013, with the restored original put on display at the Hokianga Historical Society's Museum at Omapere.

[10][11][12] The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa holds a large number of photographs of Opo taken by Eric Lee-Johnson.