HAPPY AS A PIG IN MUCK: Zorro the piglet has been surfing since he was three weeks old.

Zorro the piglet cannot fly, but he sure can ride the waves.

Before sunrise, the piglet trots down to the beach with his owner to check the surf at Mt Maunganui. If the swell's up, Matthew Bell grabs his board and Zorro, and paddles out.

He is teaching Zorro to surf - just because he can. "I've always thought about surfing with a pig, because we had them." Zorro is the fourth pig to share the Bell family home at Te Puke.

He is a mixture of kunekune and domestic pig, and possibly a little wild boar. But to the family, he is their pet.

"Pigs and dogs aren't that dissimilar when you put them in a domestic situation," Mr Bell said. "He's up at six in the morning and runs down to the beach to check the surf with me."

Zorro was just over three weeks old when Mr Bell first took him surfing. "He loved it." Mr Bell uses one arm to paddle, and tucks Zorro under his other arm.

Zorro cannot hold his balance for long, but has taken to swimming like a pig to water.

"He's a phenomenal swimmer. He goes for it." Mr Bell now plans to stick a hessian cloth on the board to keep Zorro's hooves from sliding off.