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.