Dolphin Encounter

Dolphin Encounter® is a locally owned business. The partners involved in Dolphin Encounter® are Ian Bradshaw, Dennis Buurman and his wife Lynette. All three are long time residents of Kaikoura having grown up and been educated in the region.

Ian Bradshaw, along with Dennis’ brother Rik Buurman, were the first to make specific ‘swim with the dolphin’ tours in New Zealand, back in the summer of 1989-90. In the year of 1991 Dennis and his wife Lynette joined the Dolphin Encounter®. In 1999 Rik decided to move on to other things and sold his share to the other partners.

We live in a time when ‘Eco Tourism’ has become the latest catch phrase and entrepreneurs throughout New Zealand and the world, are seizing upon opportunities to create activities that involve interaction with wild animals in their natural environment. In pursuing these ventures, we must not lose sight of the fact we are taking a liberty, which although regulated in many instances, is a privilege. For this reason we have a duty to value those animals we come into contact with by giving them the respect they deserve.

We at Dolphin Encounter® are focused on giving those who take our tour a natural experience, not one that is fabricated, but one where any interaction between man and mammal is on the terms of the mammal.
We are committed to a strategy which focuses on environmental sustainability and developing improved operating efficiency. This will ensure our clients experience a nature based activity at its very best, with the least impact on the environment and the marine mammals we interact with.

The Mission Statement For Dolphin Encounter®

To provide a quality experience that:

• Imparts an awareness and appreciation of the dusky dolphin, its characteristics, behavioural patterns and biology.
• Provides an understanding of the unique undersea features that are pivotal to the existence of the prolific marine life off the Kaikoura Coast.
• Draws the visitor's attention to threats posed by man to the marine mammal's environment worldwide, illustrated with examples and any relevant up to date information. 
• Motivates those who participate to take action in working to protect the wellbeing of the world’s natural marine environment and its inhabitants.