It's been nearly a week since Hatea the leopard seal has been spotted in Whangarei and the business owner accused of attacking the marine mammal is still waiting to see if he will be prosecuted.
The young male seal was last seen at the Whangarei Cruising Club on Riverside Drive on Thursday. He had been spotted in and around the Town Basin since Labour Day.
Leopard seal research assistant Giverny Forbes has put a call out for anyone who has photos or video of an incident on October 24 where Pupurangi Hire and Tour business operator Tony Munroe is accused of attacking the animal, something he strongly disputes.
Mr Monroe said he has a long history of kaitiakitanga (guardianship) with the harbour. With his family he has been involved in whale strandings, burying whales, repatriating turtles and tuatara and more.
He said he prodded the seal lightly to encourage it to get back into its environment, but it was not an attack.