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.
Krill is usually a sign that whales are present in the water.
Castlecliff resident Lynne Douglas said she first spotted the white lines of krill on the beach near Rangiora St last week.
"A closer look showed that it was krill in large numbers," Mrs Douglas said.
She was surprised to see it, because she had never seen krill at Castlecliff before.
"I have seen plenty of bluebottles, pearly nautilus, violet snails and last year we had wind sailor jellyfish.
"These come ashore every now and then, but in all my years of beach observing, I do not remember seeing krill before," Mrs Douglas said.