Are there sharks in nz

A look at fatal encounters with sharks that have happened in New Zealand, and some expert advice from Surf Lifesaving NZ. The waters around New Zealand are teeming with the apex predators of the ocean - and there's barely a stretch of coastline where you won't encounter a species of shark. While around 66 shark species have been identified living in our surrounding seas, there are around a dozen that fishers and swimmers will regularly come across.

Despite their fearful appearance, only a handful, like the great white, mako and hammerhead, pose a threat to human life. Many species congregate in the warm waters of the upper North Island, ranging from bronze whalers, blue sharks, makos, giant manta rays and school sharks. Around the South Island, generally harmless species such as spiny dogfish, school and blue sharks make the marine habitat their home.

Some species like the hammerhead, blue shark and spiny dogfish are common in all coastal waters. But by far one of the most dangerous stretches of coastlines in the country is in the deep south, where mature great whites, with their distinct white underbelly, make their residence.

Considered the deadliest and most dangerous shark, the great white is found around both islands, with the young preferring warmer northern waters. Adults can be found in southern waters near seal colonies. The apex predator, which can grow up to 7 metres long, poses the most threat to humans and is the fish responsible for the largest number of unprovoked attacks. Since there have been five fatal attacks and 13 where people have been injured off Otago, Southland and Stewart Island beaches.

Over the past years, 13 people have lost their lives in shark attacks across New Zealand. The grim death toll rose last week when year-old Kaelah Marlow was attacked by a shark, suspected to be a great white, at Bowentown end of Waihi Beach. Local media cited witnesses as saying the woman had been swimming right in front of the lifeguard flags on Thursday.

When they heard screams, lifeguards went out by boat immediately and pulled her to shore. It is not clear what kind of shark attacked Kaelah Marlow, but an eyewitness reportedly claimed it was a great white, a species which is protected in the waters around New Zealand.

I worry that this gets lost sight of in the media scramble after such events. Mr Scolley said that while attacks were rare, there were ways to be careful about interactions that could go wrong. Among the risk factors are, for instance, fish feeding events or dead animals in the water.

A seven-day rahui, a traditional Maori prohibition restricting access to an area, has been placed on the beach. The last recorded shark attack was in when a man was injured - but survived - at Baylys Beach.

Over the past years, there have only been 13 fatal shark attacks documented in New Zealand, according to the country's department of conservation. Shark attack was like 'being hit by a truck'. Man killed by shark in Western Australia. Image source, Handout. Police named the victim as year-old Kaelah Marlow.