By LORI BELT NORTHLAND beachgoers are undeterred by increased sightings of sharks around the country and a shark attack at Omaha Beach on Monday.
Sharks have been sighted in several locations this summer, including Northland, with the most recent at Omaha Beach, just north of Auckland on Monday.
A 4m bronze whaler
shark attacked an inflatable rescue boat with two lifeguards in it while they were checking reports of sharks near the beach. The pair escaped unharmed, but the beach was closed down after the attack.
However, patrol captain at Ruakaka Beach, Rory Taylor, said Northlanders did not need to worry about the chances of being attacked by a shark.
"It doesn't happen much here, there might be the occasional sighting, but it's not a major and nothing out of the ordinary," he said.
"The public haven't shown any concern towards (the shark sightings) anyway."
Sightings become more prevalent during the summer months as some sharks come inshore to feed on fish found in the shallows, and there are more people in the water to notice them.
Those swimming at Ruakaka Beach yesterday were unperturbed by the increased sightings, and said it wasn't a common enough occurrence for them to worry about it.
Gutry Maree, a One Tree Point local, isn't phased by the creatures. "Sharks are just part of the ocean and it doesn't affect the way you swim - I've never seen one here," she said.
Cynthia Matteucci from Auckland said as long as her family stays in close and swims between the flags she's never worried about sharks.
If swimmers do see a shark, Mr Taylor said they should stay calm, not panic or swim towards it - and raise their hand to let the lifeguard know.
