New Zealand - Napier - A dolphin jumping through a flaming ring at Marineland in Napier. - 1970 - Private Family Photo #602455 Marineland of New Zealand - Marineland of New Zealand was a marine mammal park in Napier, New Zealand. The park opened in 1965 and closed to the public in 2008. It has had several species of native marine wildlife, including the common dolphin, the New Zealand fur seal, little blue penguin and gannets. Marineland also has California sea lions, a sulphur crested cockatoo, otters and more. - The history of Marineland began in 1964 when an Auckland architectural firm was commissioned by Napier City under mayor Peter Tait to design an aquarium and dolphin pool. In late January 1965 Marineland caught its first common dolphin, Daphne, and the facility opened two days later. In 1969 two dolphins died when vandals broke in and fed them nails. - Closed to the public in September 2008 when Kelly the last remaining dolphin dies. In September 2013, Napier City Council announced that Marineland was to be demolished and replaced with a skate park.