Marine life delights Northland locals with manta ray and orca sightings

From a group of about 50 manta rays gliding through the Bay of Islands, to a family of orca surfacing in the Taipa River, this weekend was a spectacular showcase of Northland’s marine life.

Visitors on a Fullers Great Sights sightseeing tour got a treat, at the weekend, when about 50 manta rays gave them an unforgettable experience, as they swam around the boat.

“We’ve had an incredible couple of weeks spotting these gentle giants, but yesterday was something special ... about 50 manta rays all around us,” the sightseeing tour agency said in a post on their Facebook page.

Founder and managing director of Manta Watch New Zealand, Lydia Green said we are in the middle of peak manta season in New Zealand and the warmer waters are attracting more manta rays.

“From the video you can see they are doing back flips, called somersault feedings, what they are doing is creating whirlpools with their body to bring the food together and they swim through it to feed.”

A manta ray feeding, in the same way the group of about 50 were doing in the Bay of Islands. Photo / Manta Watch New Zealand

Green said they are filter-feeders and feed on things like krill.

“Most behaviour we see is food-related. When the food is at the surface, they are easier to spot.”

“We have a healthy population of manta rays and so many Kiwis have no idea that we have a population.”

About 50 manta rays delighted visitors in the Bay of Islands. Photo / Manta Watch New Zealand

Manta Watch launched an app last month that encourages members of the public to share sightings, which Green said has helped streamline their process of learning more about the creatures.

“We have been researching the manta ray population since 2021. They are really intelligent; they have the largest brain of any fish and can be really interactive.”

Department of Conservation senior science advisor for protected fishes and reptiles, Dr Karen Middlemiss said; “While manta rays are observed in northern coastal areas like the Bay of Islands, this is thought to be the first recorded large-scale feeding occurrence in that area.”

Manta Watch New Zealand recently launched an app where the public can share manta ray sightings across the country. Photo / Manta Watch New Zealand

“Manta rays are generally solitary or seen in small groups, but larger aggregations occur, particularly in areas rich in food sources like plankton. These aggregations are often associated with feeding events.”

Middlemiss added that because manta rays are protected the public are urged to observe them from a safe and respectable distance.

“Avoid approaching them too closely or disrupting their behaviour. If you’re in the water, do not attempt to touch or chase the rays, as this can cause stress to the animals. If boating, maintain a slow speed and keep clear to avoid accidental injury.”

Meanwhile, in Taipa residents were delighted to see a small pod of orca whales swimming with their calves in the Taipa River mouth on Sunday.

The orca came so close that locals were able to see and hear the spray coming from their blowholes, as they rose out of the water.

Yvonne Simms was one of the lucky residents to see the spectacle and said it was a lovely way to end a day out on their yacht.

“We were returning from a day out on our yacht with friends and one of our group spotted them just as we were approaching Mangōnui Harbour. There seemed to be a mother with a calf and then a big one, possibly a male who came right behind our yacht and splashed down near us. Our yacht is an Amel 53, a French yacht and in the Strait of Gibraltar orca have been attacking the rudders of yachts like ours … A lovely end to our day on the water.”

DoC said it was a legal requirement to report any interactions with manta rays to 0800 DOC HOT or sharks@doc.govt.nz