Waihī Beach shark attack victim, Kaelah Marlow was dragged from the water alive after the attack but paramedics administered CPR on the beach to no avail. Video / Tadhg Stopford
The beach site of yesterday's fatal shark attack will not be closed today.
Surf Life Saving New Zealand confirmed local council officials had made the decision.
Otawhiwhi Marae have instated a rāhui spanning the North End of Waihi Beach down to Bowentown Heads and in harbour to Ongare, Tuapiro &Tanner Point. The rāhui prohibits the collection of shellfish and all fishing and will remain in place for a week from today (ending Jan 15th at 7am).
SLNZ said observational patrols will take place at Bowentown today but flags will not be put out.
Flagged patrols will take place at nearby Waihi Beach and Island View, but these are weather-dependent.
Surrounding beaches will be patrolled as usual today.
From Saturday, all patrols will resume as per usual.
"Our collective thoughts are with the Surf Lifeguards involved in this tragic incident, as well as with the patient's whānau and loved ones," a statement said.
"Surf Life Saving New Zealand staff members and volunteers are not able to provide comment on the specific nature of this incident as it is now a police matter."
Tragic swim
A woman's swim at the beach ended in tragedy yesterday.
Emergency services rushed to Waihi Beach just after 5pm yesterday, including two ambulances, a first response unit and a TECT Rescue Helicopter, which was stood down on arrival when it was determined that the woman had died.
Tadhg Stopford said he saw a helicopter land at the beach and people attempting CPR on the woman for several minutes.
"Vigorous CPR was being applied, and a troop of responders encircled the victim."
The woman died at the scene a short time later and the incident will be referred to the Coroner. Photo / Tadhg Stopford
He said after work on the victim had ceased, a man walked into the ocean.
"The man roused himself and marched 100m into the sea," Stopford said.
"His entry into the sea was a challenge, I guess, to the shark who had stolen the life of his loved one. He defiantly waded deep into the sea, and stayed there for several minutes.
Western Bay of Plenty Katikati-Waihi Beach ward councillor Anne Henry said it was an "absolute tragedy". Fellow ward councillor James Denyer said he'd lived in the area for more than a decade but this was the first fatal attack he'd heard of in the local waters.
"Tend to think it happens in Australia," he said.
Western Bay of Plenty Mayor Garry Webber, who has also lived in the area a long time, said he couldn't remember a shark attack in the region.
"When these things happen your thoughts immediately go to the family," Webber said.
"And particularly the responders, the coastguard, the ambulance, air rescue helicopter, who had to attend. You really feel for them."
Emergency services rushed to Waihi Beach just after 5pm on Thursday. Photo / Tadhg Stopford
Surf Life Saving New Zealand national search and rescue manager Allan Mundy said a key concern was the wellbeing of the lifeguards involved.
"Our team will be meeting with peer support team and we'll be going through the events of the day and looking at any support we can provide out lifeguards emotionally, moving forward from here."
Waihī Beach is a holiday destination for Kiwis, Webber said, with its population swelling at this time of year from about 4000 people up to about 20,000.
Shark scientist Riley Elliott said without all the facts, it's hard to speculate what species of shark attacked the woman.
Shark scientist Riley Elliott says it's hard to speculate what species of shark attacked the woman. Photo / Supplied
However, there has been evidence of juvenile and immature Great Whites in the area as of last summer.
He added that Bronze Whaler sharks were more common in the area than Great Whites, but hadn't had adverse interaction with a human in a very long time.
He said shark attacks in general, and especially fatal, are rare.
The last deadly shark attack in the Bay of Plenty, according to website Shark Attack Data, was in 1875, in the 145 years.
"Shark attacks are incredibly rare and if you see one, remain calm, alert people around you, and calmly vacate the water."
Elliott said his thoughts were with the family and friends of the woman after the "tragic" incident.
Rāhui in place
Flowers were left on the beach this morning at the site of the fatal shark attack. Photo / George Novak
Maori warden and Otawhiwhi Marae Trust spokesperson Shaan Kingi said a rāhui was put in place this morning which was customary practice when there had been a water tragedy.
He said in this case it was deemed appropriate to keep the rāhui in place for seven days because there had been a lot of blood on the beach and in the water.
Kingi said the area where the young woman was attacked and died was "very tapu" and extra time was needed to allow the blood to be cleared.
He said he hoped people would respect the rāhui which was in place out of respect for the young woman's family and friends who gathered near the Waihi Beach Coastguard headquarters last night.
The rāhui is in place along the stretch of coast from the north end of Waihī Beach to the Bowentown Heads and included in the harbour to Ongare, Tuapiro and Tanners Point.
Flowers were left on the beach this morning at the site of the fatal shark attack. Photo / George Novak
Kingi said more than 15 emergency service responders and police responded to the tragedy last night.
They gathered together last night near the Coastguard building for karakia (prayers) with kaumātua from the marae to help with the spiritual healing process.
Otawhiwhi Marae Trust said in a Facebook post Thursday night: "The collection of shellfish and all Fishing is prohibited during the rāhui and is expected to be enforced for a week from after January 8 at 7am to January 15 at 7am."
Just over a year ago a 3.5m great white shark was spotted by people on a boat near Waihī Beach, while a 2m-long shark washed up dead at the same beach in 2019.
Waihī Beach was also closed down in January 2014 after lifeguards and swimmers spotted a small shark near the shoreline.
In February 2013, father-of-one 46-year-old Adam Strange was killed after he was attacked by a shark while swimming at Auckland's Muriwai Beach.
Up to 2014, there had been 12 reported fatal shark attacks in New Zealand.
That includes one in 1966 in Auckland's Manukau Harbour, plus at Te Kaha (1976), Napier (1896), Oakura (1966), Wellington (1852), Kumara (1896), Moeraki (1907 and 1967), St Clair (1964 and 1967) and Aramoana (1968).
