Castlecliff Beach has had some tiny and unusual visitors recently.
Locals have noticed white lines of small creatures washed up on the sand.
Connie Norgate, from the Department of Conservation, said the creatures were krill - shrimp-like creatures that provided food for squid, fish, seabirds and some whale species.
Ms Norgate said she understood it was unusual for krill to wash up on beaches in the area, and did not know the reason for it.
However, krill reach large numbers in the seas around and south of New Zealand during the summer months when their plankton food is plentiful.