A shark has been spotted swimming in the surf in Papamoa today.
The shark was over a metre long and was still swimming around near the shore at 4.30pm.
Samantha Sowter spotted the shark and said it been there for about half an hour, "just chilling in the surf".
"It's exciting. People are freaking out but who knew sharks lived in the ocean," she joked.
Local Ben Brock said the shark was a "stunning" bronze whaler.
"I see them in the shallows every summer. Most of the ones we see are pregnant or recent mothers to shark pups. They are building up their strength on the coastal fish we have here."
He said the native coastal sharks were an important part of the environment.
"They only show interest in people if people try to hurt, annoy or threaten them. They are always in the shallows along the shore all year round."
"The more sharks we see the healthier our ocean is."
Photo and videos by Samantha Sowter.