Story: Taniwha

Pelorus Jack

Pelorus Jack

Pelorus Jack was a dolphin that often guided ships to and from French Pass, which separates D’Urville Island from the South Island. The dolphin acted as a guide from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. Many Māori believed that he was a taniwha named Tuhirangi, in a dolphin form.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: 1/2-003190-F

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Basil Keane, 'Taniwha - Whales, dolphins and enchanted logs', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/10893/pelorus-jack (accessed 14 May 2024)

Story by Basil Keane, published 24 Sep 2007