Skip to main content

Story: Taniwha

Pelorus Jack

Image
Pelorus Jack

Pelorus Jack was a dolphin that often guided ships to and from French Pass, which separates D’Urville Island from the South Island. The dolphin acted as a guide from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. Many Māori believed that he was a taniwha named Tuhirangi, in a dolphin form.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: 1/2-003190-F

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page

Basil Keane, Taniwha – Whales, dolphins and enchanted logs, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/10893/pelorus-jack (accessed 10 June 2026).

Story by Basil Keane, published 1 March 2009.