Marine fish and reptiles

Information about some of the shark species found around the New Zealand coast,

Although turtles breed in the tropics and subtropics, there are five species of turtle that are seen in New Zealand waters. Green and Leatherback turtles are the most common.

Sea snakes and kraits occasionally visit New Zealand’s waters, arriving on ocean currents or after large storms in the Tasman and Pacific. More are likely to wash up on our beaches in future due to climate change, increasing storm events and water temperatures.

Spotted black grouper are only found in southeast Australia, Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs, Lord Howe, Norfolk Islands and northern New Zealand.