Opo the dolphin remembered
Amber-Leigh Woolf looks back at the famous dolphin that won hearts.
Opo the dolphin shot to national superstardom in the mid-1950s. But life in the spotlight was fleeting after she was found dead in mysterious circumstances – the day after a committee was formed to protect her.
The young dolphin’s presence in the small, sleepy Northland community of Opononi sparked a tourism boom between June 1955 and March 1956.
Making headlines across the country, the playful mammal frolicked in Hokianga Harbour with up to 2000 people each day.
Among them was Waimamaku resident Dene Preston, who was about 10 years old when his family made special trips to see Opo.
Preston recalled traffic during the 14-kilometre journey to Opononi being so packed with cars that finding a park was difficult.
‘‘They had to have a traffic cop out there just because of the amount of people going,’’ Preston said.
There were always ‘‘big crowds’’ in the water: ‘‘[We] could get in the water there and sort of give her a scratch, or a rub.’’
While Opo was friendly with everyone, the young bottlenose was especially fond of children.
In those days, the tavern was very close to the sea, Preston said. ‘‘I can remember being there and seeing her tossing a beer bottle, one of the big old beer bottles. ‘‘We just took it for granted and didn’t think too much about it ... but what I remember was the death of her.’’
Preston said, very early on the morning of her death, an Auckland Star newspaper reporter and photographer were driving to Opononi but crashed their car outside Preston’s home. ‘‘They were rushing on the road to get photos of her. They were driving too fast and copped some poles on the side of the road, and it flipped their car.’’
He remembered feeling sad when he heard Opo had died. Opo had been good for the area, and the local businesses.
In those days people travelled the gravel roads to see Opo. If she had lived a few more years, there might have been a road made through the Waipoua Forest just for the traffic, he said.
Opo, also called ‘Opononi George’, was a young female bottlenose dolphin.
The Opononi Gay Dolphin Protection Committee was formed following concerns for Opo’s welfare.
Additionally, the government responded with an order in council on March 8, 1956, which made it an offence to ‘‘take or molest any dolphin in Hokianga Harbour’’.
But the next day, she did not appear at the beach as usual.
A search began, and Opo’s body was found jammed into a crevice between rocks, perhaps to disguise the cause of her death.
Some suggested she was stranded while fishing.
However, checks revealed Opo had been killed in an explosion using gelignite, an explosive material used by fishermen.
Over the years, some in the community said fishermen were upset that the dolphin kept following the fishing boats and eating the fish.
No-one ever confessed to killing Opo.
Messages for Opo came from all around New Zealand, including sympathy from the GovernorGeneral, Sir Willoughby Norrie.
Opo was buried by the Opononi Memorial Hall, close to the beach close to where she found fame.
A commemorative statue in Opononi shows Opo straddled by a young boy.
‘‘I can remember being there and seeing her tossing a beer bottle, one of the big old beer bottles. We just took it for granted and didn’t think too much about it ... but what I remember was the death of her.’’
Dene Preston