Moko the Dolphin whale-saver, Star of Mahia Regatta

by Tim Sandall on 23 Mar 2009 Moko the dolphin a local identity at Mahia, a popular holiday town on the East Coast of the North Island in New Zealand, entertained young and old during the Wairoa Yacht Clubs annual Mahia Regatta, enabling these photos. Just weeks before, Moko had saved the lives of two whales.

Approximately 20 sailors from Napier, Wairoa and Gisborne Yacht clubs had a great weekend on March 7/8 at the Wairoa Yacht Clubs, Mahia regatta.

The highlight of the weekend was the appearance of Moko the dolphin who came to play with the juniors. Moko is a free ranging dolphin that has befriended the local community and visitors over the past few years and really turned it on for the sailors.

In the light breeze on Sunday Moko was pushing the boats around, playing with their centre boards and some how managed to get the rudder off a P class which he then decided to play (see photo's) with for about an hour before a Starling sailor was able to get it back. Many visitors have lost boogy boards to Moko this summer.

It's not the first time that Moko has made herself famous. Her saving of two stranded whales could be the first such case in the world, a conservation worker told news.com.au.

Just this month she became an instant hero after leading to safety two pygmy whales that had repeatedly stranded.

'As far as I know it's the only documented instance of this happening,' said local Department of Conservation officer Malcolm Smith, adding he had checked with whale stranding specialists who were also unaware of any similar dolphin rescues.

Moko arrived at the beach in the nick of time, Smith said.

The disoriented mother and calf had resisted attempts to herd them out to sea, and kept restranding on the beach, to the point where Smith said the pair would likely have to be killed.

Then Moko appeared, and came right up to the whales before leading them out to sea.

'Quite clearly the attitude of the whales changed when the dolphin arrived on the scene. They responded virtually straight away,' Smith said.

'The dolphin managed in a couple of minutes what we had failed to do in an hour and a half.'

Smith said the whales had not been sighted again in the area.

However Moko had returned and was continuing to play with swimmers near the shore, as she has down for about the past six months.