Opo was a dolphin who becames famous throughout New Zealand during the summer of 1955/56 for playing
with the children of the small town of Opononi on the Hokianga Harbour.
Opo that started following fishing boats afther his mother had been killed, and would swim daily in the bay close the town.
It had no qualms about human company, and was be able to perform stunts, play with objects like beach balls and beer
bottles and allow children to swim alongside him and make contact.
The dolphin became a celebrity but on 9 March 1956 it was found died in a rock. Opo was buried with full Maori honours
in a special plot next to the war memorial.
Opo's legacy is very full :
- Two songs recorded by Pat Mcminn (1956) and Julie Collier (1988) can be found now on Spotify.
- A novel - This summer dolphin - by Maurice Shadbbott.
- Several documentary fims and a Rudall Hayward film called - The amazing dolphin of Oponioni - (1956)
- A statue was erected in Oponioni.
- The Museum of New Zealand holds a large number of photographs of Opo.