Moko thought to have moved to Gisborne 

Source: NZPAVisitors to Mahia continue to be wowed by Moko the friendly bottlenose dolphin that has made the beach her home, Gisborne, New Zealand

It is almost certain that a large, friendly bottlenose dolphin delighting crowds at Gisborne's Waikanae Beach is Mahia's internationally-famous Moko.

His move 80km up the coast to find new playmates has delighted many but given at least one person the fright of his life.

Seasoned ocean athlete Brian Wilson says the experience left him fearing for his life.

He came across the dolphin about a kilometre off the beach as he was paddling in his outrigger canoe.

Delight in seeing the animal turned quickly to fear when he tried to return to shore.

"It was a fight to get back to the beach. He kept trying to turn me around. He threw me off a couple of times. I was starting to get scared that I would not be able to get in."

Moko was charging up to the waka and Wilson had concerns it might not hold together.

He has worked with dolphins at Marineland in Napier and has trained in the sea for the past three decades and says he has never seen one so huge.

"I just want to warn other people who might be going out to train or even swim. He was so strong, a smaller person might not have made it back to shore."

He made slow progress as Moko kept turning him around. Then he caught a wave and got away.

The dolphin followed him into shallow water.

Department of Conservation ranger Jamie Quirk says this behaviour is typical of Moko.

He is "pretty confident" the dolphin was Moko.

"It is definitely a male bottlenose dolphin about the same size as Moko and he has not been seen at Mahia for the past few days."

Bill Shortt, of Mahia Beach, says the people of Mahia will be devastated if Moko does not return.

"Our boy has been missing for three days now," he says.

He was last seen following crayfisherman Tom Wairau to Waikokopu, 8km north of Mahia Beach, on Monday.

Moko has been at Mahia for the past two-and-a-half years and become a much-loved icon of their community, even if he does sometimes misbehave.

His affection for people has made him the star attraction at Mahia, with news of his antics attracting people from all over the world.

"Mayor Meng Foon better send us a big cheque if he has moved to Gisborne," says Moko's Mahia guardian Shortt says.

He thinks Moko will have "got in tow" with a trawler and followed it to Gisborne.

"The feeling is that he has been enticed to follow. Thoughts are that they have trailed a large red float behind them and Moko has happily followed. Red is his favourite colour."

Quirk says DOC's advice was:

"Moko is a wild animal and should be treated with respect. People need to be extremely careful around him."

Moko's visit could be short-lived.

With the forecast storm coming through the district in the next few days, it is possible he will head back to waters he knows well, Quirk says.