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Story: Dolphins

Opo at play

Video file

Opo attracted crowds of children and adults to Opononi, and she seemed to enjoy their attention. This film clip was screened in 1956, the year of her death. It includes the song ‘Opo the friendly dolphin’, written by Crombie Murdoch.

Using this item

Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Reference: Pictorial Parade 47. National Film Unit, 1956

Permission of Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga must be obtained before any re-use of this material.

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How to cite this page

Gerard Hutching, Dolphins – Humans and dolphins, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/4702/opo-at-play (accessed 24 June 2026).

Story by Gerard Hutching, published 2 March 2009, updated 1 September 2015.