Some Christchurch residents were treated to an incredible moment at the weekend when two southern right whales made an appearance off New Brighton Beach.
Amazing footage shows the mother and calf playing in the bay and cruising between two surfers on Sunday.
"Look how long it is!" one person is heard saying in the video.
The whales are known to be slow swimmers but are often acrobatic and inquisitive - as seen in the stunning video captured by Christchurch Coastal Ward community board member Jo Zervos. She described the moment as "amazing".
"The whales went right up to the surfers and circled around them with curiosity," Zervos said.
A day earlier, there were reports of sightings of the mother and calf at nearby Taylors Mistake Beach.
The Department of Conservation recommends people who come across marine mammals at sea don't get any closer than 300 metres.
