By Dan Parker
Special patrols have been set up in Gisborne to proect Moko the dolphin, as thousands of revellers flood the town for Rhythm and Vines, and new year.
Moko himself has a dodgy reputation when it comes to dealing with strangers, with claims he is overly aggressive.
But Moko's friend, 13-year-old Tayler Reid, can be found mucking around with the 250kg dolphin most days.
"Usually he tries to take my board away, but I like playing with him. He comes up most days, so I get to play with him alot," Tayler says.
Moko's favourite game is fetch, but despite being considered an intelligent creature, he is still struggling to grasp the rules.
"He's taken my board quite a lot, my dad has to come down and try and get it back."
Moko has been spending his summers in Gisborne since 2007, but after attracting worldwide attention recently for his amorous behaviour towards female swimmers, the surf club appointed fulltime minders.
"I think people have kind of started to realise he is a wild animal, and you have to respect that," says Moko's minder Ben Tinnelly.
"We haven't really had any problems yet."
But with new years approaching and excessive alcohol consumption an issue, authorities want to remind people to practise common sense.
"There are dangers involved with Moko. He is a wild animal, and like any wild animal he is unpredictable. People need to be very aware of that." says Jamie Quirk of DOC.
The Moko minder will continue to patrol Gisborne's rivers and beaches for the next three-and-a-half weeks - that is when the scores of holiday-makers will head home, and floatation devices and boogie boards will no longer need rescuing.
3 News