UPDATE FRIDAY: Claims great white shark was beaten to death on Auckland beach.
Thursday's original report is below.
A great white shark has died after it washed up on Auckland's Orewa Beach on Thursday.
According to locals, the shark was caught in a net before it became stranded on the shoreline.
Police were called to the beach shortly after 5pm.
The shark drew a large crowd of bystanders, eager to help the shark back into the shallows. Video footage taken by a beachgoer shows a lifeguard and local pulling the shark by its tail into the ocean, releasing it at knee-height.
The shark appeared to remain stationary, its dorsal fin just visible above the water. Lifeguards and onlookers waded out to get a closer look, but the shark failed to swim.
Police confirmed to Newshub that the shark is deceased.
