Seal wanders on road, dies

Customs Quay, Inner Harbour , Napier can be a popular spot for seals. Photo / Warren Buckland

A fur seal's "unusual" journey more than 2km inland, came to an unfortunate end on a rural road in Napier.

DoC conservation services manager Dave Carlton said the 3 to 4-year-old seal had probably swum up the Ahuriri Estuary before deciding to go bush on Wednesday night.

It was earlier thought someone must have taken the seal from the sea to the area it was found, about 2.2km from the coast.

"It probably got there under its own steam." Mr Carlton said.

"Every now and then they decide to go for a wander - they can be found quite a distance up creeks and rivers. It's very unusual that he's gone up there."

The seal was crossing a southern stretch of Puketitiri Rd when it was hit by two cars. It has since been buried.

"[The motorists] were pretty upset when they realised what they hit," Mr Carlton said.

Fur seals are found throughout mainland New Zealand. On land they sometimes become disoriented.