Recently I went up north and spent a couple of mornings with our current resident solo dolphin. He has been named Moko and he lives around the Mahia Peninsula.

Having been in communication with Dave Head we finally met and made our way to Mahia.

The first morning we were lucky to be taken out by Bill Short in his boat and it didn't take him long to find him (originally called a she we have the photos to prove she was a he).

What a lovely wee chap he was, about two metres of fun encapsulated in a dolphin body. He really was there for the interractions in his life, he didn't want us to get out of the water, becoming quite forceful and determined to block our attempts to get back on the boat.

Left:   Dave having a cuddle with Moko.

The second day dawned and Dave left me at Waikokopu... I stood out on a barriei of rocks and visualised "her" (hadn't had a look at that stage which goes to show you can't believe everything the "experts" tell you).

Right:   Dave with Moko presenting himself for a belly rub.

Once he got the message and got over his excitement it was all on, we both had an absolute ball. Dave arrived back with a young local girl named Kimmee and brought her out to meet Moko. It took her a while to get over her reticence but once she got into the water there was no stopping her.

Within minutes I saw a fin and back break the surface heading for me so I quickly ran for my wetsuit and got in the water. Boy was he excited, I actually had to tell him to pull his horns in as I was getting a bit pummelled.

A lovely thing happened... A recently-naturalised English couple by fortuitous circumstance arrived on the beach and the chap hopped in with his 5 year old daughter on his back.

What a game wee girl holding her breath and diving with dad to get a look at Moko. Later it was magic watching Moko towing the two of them with the wee lass holding on to the fin and her dad.... Lovely.

When I tried to get out of the water, Moko blocked me and I ended up with him in my lap and he let me lift his tail out of the water.

Right:   Me lifting Moko's tail out of the water. Absolute trust.