Great white shark model at Taieri Mouth concerns locals

The model has caused concern. Photo / Stephen Jaquiery

Rumours of the death of a great white shark at Taieri Mouth have been greatly exaggerated.

A large grey shark hanging from a hook at the jetty sparked a flurry of interest, and a call to the authorities, recently.

Great whites are a protected species in New Zealand.

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But it appears the 3.5m shark is actually just the Taieri's newest tourist attraction.

Taieri fisherman Glen Patterson, 46, said he bought the 120kg latex shark from a mate in Southland, who had used it during filming for a Discovery Channel show.

"We decided to hang it up so the kids could stop and have a look at it and have a laugh," he said.

Glen Patterson shows off his great white shark prop, which has attracted plenty of attention at Taieri Mouth. Photo / Stephen Jaquiery

Some people had expressed concern about the shark being real, he said.

A Department of Conservation spokeswoman said it had followed up on a report about the shark, but it turned out to be "a very life-like model".

Once people realised it was a fake, they saw the funny side of it, Patterson said.

He was hoping to continue displaying the shark as a novelty attraction.

"It's just something funny. Life's too serious now."