Warning after large sharks seen near Wellington

  • 10/02/2016
Warning after large sharks seen near Wellington

A number of large sharks, believed to be bronze whalers, have been spotted near Wellington and police are warning swimmers and beachgoers to keep an eye out for them.

The sharks were seen at Peka Peka Beach and Waikanae Beach today by a passing helicopter.

Police said there were two sharks seen, but Kapiti Heliworx chief executive Dennis Young said five were seen.

He believed they were five bronze whaler sharks which were up to three metres long.

"They were definitely in the proximity of swimmers," he said.

"There were a couple of locations where we landed on the beach and gave some warning to the swimmers and got them out of the water."

But he said it took a while to get the message through to people, but the "slowly made their way out".

Mr Young said the sharks were about 50 to 70 metres off shore when he saw them.

In about six years flying in the area, he hadn't seen sharks that size before.

Police are warning people to stay away out of the sea for the time being.

Newshub.