Gisborne to give Moko VIP treatment

The Department of Conservation is planning to give Moko the friendly bottlenose dolphin VIP treatment if he continues to make the Gisborne region home over the Christmas/New Year period.

There is concern that Moko could get injured from too much close attention from human company.

"With Rhythm and Vines (Music Festival) bringing 20,000 people here - and most of them will go into the water - we will have to look at something," Gisborne Whakatane area manager Andy Bassett said.

The three-year-old has recently switched his allegiance from the Mahia Peninsula to Gisborne.

"We are still waiting to see what happens. Whether he stays here or goes back to Mahia," Mr Bassett said.

Moko's number one fan Bill Shortt has a word of advice about the frisky dolphin for Gisborne females.

"Don't swim on your own and you ask for trouble if you're in a red bikini."

Red is Moko's favourite colour.

- NZPA