Wednesday, 10 March 2010
MOKO’S minders have gone mobile …
A $5000-plus inflatable rigid boat is the latest addition to the team that is dedicated to looking after the happy-go-lucky bottlenose dolphin - and the crowds of people who are hitting the water to play with him.
The newly-formed minders - Whakatane harbour superintendent Peter Cavanagh, Kirsty Carrington and Jackie Jacks - approached the Whakatane Community Board for funding.
Board chairman Neville Delahunty said the plea for help came on the eve of a board meeting and normally they would not deal with such a last-minute request.
However, the appeal of Moko is such that a sub-committee of Mr Delahunty, George Chambers and Tony Hall was quickly convened and the money was quickly forthcoming.
Mr Chambers said the board had used its discretionary fund and had been given a generous discount by OceanSports Marine.
The IRB has been donated to the Bay Artificial Reef Charitable Trust, which is responsible for the Seafire wreck dive site, and will be for general community use if - and when - Moko heads for a new home.
The minders were rapt with their new boat - dubbed the Moko Mobile - and Mr Cavanagh said all it needed was a guard on the propeller to protect Moko and swimmers.
He said he was also discussing restrictions on fishing nets in the Whakatane River after Moko twice got tangled in them while stealing fish.
“There’s also a risk of swimmers getting caught in nets when they go in after Moko - and that could be more dangerous,” he said.
Mr Cavanagh said he had had talks with the Ministry of Fisheries, Department of Conservation and iwi, while Mr Delahunty asked fishermen to refrain from putting nets in the river.