Rescue services had to be called after the 250kg dolphin's behaviour prevented six people from swimming back to shore in separate incidents in the past week.

Four-year-old Moko, who used to live off Mahia on New Zealand's east coast, was initially praised for his friendly nature, reports Sky News.

But since making Gisborne his home in September he has trapped swimmers, overturned kayaks, tipped over waterskiers, and interfered with surf lifesaving training.

Marine Science expert Professor Mark Orams has compared Moko's personality change to humans going through puberty.

"He's doing what we all do as teenagers," he said. "He's testing his boundaries, but he's testing them on humans - and humans are coming off second best.

"Here you've got a very lonely bottlenose who loves human contact, but he's getting way too big and strong for it."

The mammal's behaviour has become so bad authorities plan to send out text alerts warning locals to be careful during the New Zealand summer.

But Olympic kayaking double gold medallist and surf lifesaving instructor Alan Thompson said reports of Moko's behaviour were exaggerated.

He told The New Zealand Herald: "If you don't like the way he plays, then don't go out in the water." -- Courtesy of Ananova.com

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