Napier’s world-renowned Marineland opened in January 1965, two days after its first common dolphin, Daphne, was caught. Within five years one million people had visited, including national sports teams, politicians, celebrities and members of the royal family. The site exhibited dusky dolphins, California sea lions, leopard seals and New Zealand fur seals.
In the 1970s, Marineland welcomed bottlenose dolphins, weddell seals, and small clawed otters arrived from Melbourne Zoo.
The 1980s and 1990s saw the construction of a grandstand, new Marine Education Centre and a very popular "Swim with the Dolphins" programme.
Marineland closed to the public in September 2008 when Kelly, the last remaining dolphin, died. Many of the animals were then transferred to National Aquarium of New Zealand.
Image credit: MTG Hawke's Bay.
16 July 2024
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