New Zealand, with its breathtaking coastlines and vibrant marine life, has long been a sought-after destination for both tourists and marine enthusiasts alike. However, with increased human interaction with the sea, there has been a rise in reports of shark attacks. While such incidents remain rare, it’s imperative to stay informed. On this page, you’ll find up-to-date details on these shark attacks in New Zealand, updated weekly, shedding light on the dynamics of this beautiful nation’s waters and the majestic creatures within.
Recent Shark Attacks in New Zealand
| Date / Time | Country / Area | Activity | Name | Sex / Age | Injury | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03-15-2022 | NEW ZEALAND ,South Island | Surfing | Carl Colville | M | No injury, shark leapt on surfboard | |
| 01-09-2022 16h30 | NEW ZEALAND ,South Island | Swimming | Alvira Repia-King | F /13 | Puncture wounds | Sevengill shark |
| 12-25-2021 | New Zealand ,South Island | Swimming | Cordelia Scott | F /9 | Laceration to big toe | |
| 11-02-2021 | NEW ZEALAND ,North Island | Surfing | Tai Juneau | M /26 | Fingers lacerated | Broadnose seven gill shark |
| 01-27-2021 20h00 | NEW ZEALAND ,North Island | Swimming | male | M /61 | Minor puncture wound to arm | Juvenile shark |
| 01-07-2021 17h10 | NEW ZEALAND ,North Island | Swimming | Kaelah Marlow | F /19 | FATAL | |
| 03-14-2020 | NEW ZEALAND ,North Island | Kayak fishing | Steve Dickinson | M | PROVOKED INCIDENT No injury, shark nudged kayak repeatedly | White shark, 2.5 to 3 m |
| 02-22-2020 11h30 | NEW ZEALAND ,North Island | Surfing | Nick Minogue | M /60 | Minor injury, surfboard bitten | White shark |
| 01-16-2020 20h30 | NEW ZEALAND ,Southland | Surfing | Jordan King | F /13 | Minor injury to lower leg | Broadnose seven gill shark? |
| 12-24-2019 Evening | NEW ZEALAND ,Southland | Boogie boarding | George Stopforth | F /17 | Laceration to thigh | |
| 07-17-2019 Morning | NEW ZEALAND ,Chatham Islands | Scuba diving | Val Croon | M /45 | Shark rammed him but no injury | White shark, 3m |
| 01-29-2019 Evening | NEW ZEALAND ,South Island | Boogie boarding | female | F /17 | Gash to thigh | Reported as shark bite but injury caused by stingray |
| 12-15-2018 11h20 | NEW ZEALAND ,North Island | Spearfishing | Kevin Lloyd | M /24 | Injuries to leg and hand | Mako shark, 7' |
| 12-09-2018 08h00 | NEW ZEALAND ,North Island | Spearfishing | Anton Oleinik | M /50 | No injury | Bronze whaler 2.5m |
| 10-19-2018 18h00 | NEW ZEALAND ,North Island | Surfing | Andrew 'Nugget' Brough | M /25 | Severe lacerations to arm and hand and cut to face | White Shark, 3.2m to 3.5m |
| 10-21-2017 09h00 | NEW ZEALAND ,North Island | Kayaking | David Lomas | M | No injury, shark shook kayak x3 | 2 m shark |
| 08-26-2017 | NEW ZEALAND ,North Island | Canoeing | Matt Kensington | M | No injury, shark bit canoe | |
| 04-27-2017 14h00 | NEW ZEALAND ,South Island | Body boarding | female | F /20 | Puncture wounds & laceration above knee | |
| 05-02-2016 Afternoon | NEW ZEALAND ,North Island | Fishing | male | M /39 | Foot bitten by landed shark PROVOKED INCIDENT | Mako shark, 1.5 m [5'] |
| 02-07-2014 20h30 | NEW ZEALAND ,South Island | Surfing | Darren Mills | M /28 | Lacerations to leg | 7-gill shark? |
| 01-25-2014 | NEW ZEALAND ,South Island | Spearfishing | James Grant | M /24 | Minor injury to left lower leg & heel | 7-gill shark |
| 01-01-2014 | NEW ZEALAND | Filming a documentary | Dinghy. Occupants: Jeff Kurr and Andy Casagrande | No injury to occupants, shark nudged and bit boat | White shark, 6 m | |
| 02-27-2013 13h24 | NEW ZEALAND ,North Island | Swimming | Adam Strange | M /46 | FATAL | White shark, 4m |
| 01-13-2013 | NEW ZEALAND ,Mercury Islands | Spearfishing | Kim Bade | M | Minor cut on finger | Bronze whaler shark, 3m |
| 12-01-2012 | NEW ZEALAND ,South Island | Scuba diving | Jenny Oliver | F /25 | No injury, shark grabbed hood | Seven-gill shark |
| 03-06-2012 19h00 | NEW ZEALAND ,North Island | Surfing | Peter Garrett | M | Lacerations to left calf | |
| 04-16-2011 Afternoon | NEW ZEALAND ,South Island | Surfing | Laine Hobson | M /41 | Puncture to left hand | possibly a bronze whaler shark |
| 02-06-2010 | NEW ZEALAND ,South Island | Spearfishing | Aaron Muilwyk | M | No injury, shark bit his speargun after he used it to prod the shark PROVOKED INCIDENT | 2 m to 3 m shark |
| 02-01-2010 18h30 | NEW ZEALAND ,South Island | Boogie Boarding | Lydia Ward | F /14 | Stepped on shark PROVOKED INCIDENT | 1.5 m shark |
| 12-16-2009 | NEW ZEALAND ,South Island | Swimming to shore from capsized kayak | Maurice Bede Philips | M /24 | FATAL | White shark, 2.8 to 3 m |
| 03-01-2009 | NEW ZEALAND ,North Island | Fishing | boat, occupants: Boyd Rutherford & Hamish Roper | M | No injury to occupants, shark bit propeller | |
| 01-24-2009 19h00 | NEW ZEALAND ,North Island | Fishing | 7.2 m boat. Occupant Kelvin Travers | No injury to occupant, shark removed small auxiliary outboard motor | ||
| 01-16-2009 | NEW ZEALAND ,South Island | Surfing | Tane Tokona | M | No injury, bumped off board by the shark | |
| 01-10-2009 | NEW ZEALAND ,North Island | Fishing | Bry & David Mossman & 2 friends | No injury to occupants, shark hit boat & bit outboard motor | Mako shark, 3m | |
| 01-06-2009 17h30 | NEW ZEALAND ,North Island | Swimming | Greg Sims | M /49 | Posterior thigh bitten | Broadnose sevengill shark |
| 12-14-2008 | NEW ZEALAND ,North Island | Fishing | Ken Lindberg | M | Lacerations to left calf and ankle | Bronze whaler shark? |
| 01-19-2008 | NEW ZEALAND ,South Island | Wading | Matthew O'Neill | M | Stingray envenomation, not a shark | No shark involvement |
| 01-14-2008 14h00 | NEW ZEALAND ,North Island | Attempting to chase shark out to sea | inflatable rescue boat. Occupants: Lauren Johnson &. Kris O'Neill | No injury to occupants, pontoon punctured | Bronze whaler shark, 4m | |
| 12-09-2007 | NEW ZEALAND ,South Island | Surfing | Olivia Hislop | F | No injury, shark bit surfboard & severed leash | |
| 03-05-2007 | NEW ZEALAND ,Cook islans | Spearfishing | Turua William Maretapu | M /16 | Leg bitten by shark after he shot at it & missed PROVOKED INCIDENT | Tiger shark |
| 12-11-2006 11h00 | NEW ZEALAND ,North Island | Surfing | Elliot Paerata-Reid | M /10 | Foot bitten | 2 to 3 m shark |
| 03-09-2005 14h00 | NEW ZEALAND ,North Island | Fishing | Chris Haenga, Wayne Rangihuna & Tamahau Tibble | M | No injury, netted shark dragged them 350 metres out to sea PROVOKED INCIDENT | Bronze whaler shark, 4.3 m [14'] |
| 01-08-2005 12h00 | NEW ZEALAND ,North Island | Fishing from a kayak | Paul Morris | M /39 | No injury, kayak bumped repeatedly | White shark |
| 10-30-2004 | NEW ZEALAND ,North Island | No injury | Invalid | |||
| 04-22-2004 | NEW ZEALAND ,North Island | Fishing | boat Live N Hope | No injury to occupants, boat scratched by shark | White shark, 5.5 m [18'] | |
| 03-22-2004 12h30 | NEW ZEALAND ,North Island | Spearfishing | Marc Fraser & Blair Fraser | M | No injury | Bronze whaler shark |
| 02-26-2004 19h00 | NEW ZEALAND ,South Island, near Karitane north of Dunedin | Surfing | Chris Blair | M /15 | Thigh lacerated | 2 m [6.75'] sevengill shark |
| 01-22-2004 | NEW ZEALAND ,Northlands | Boogie boarding | male | M | No injury, swim fin damaged | Shark involvement doubtful |
| 01-03-2004 Afternoon | NEW ZEALAND ,North Island | Kayaking (returning from spearfishing) | a male from Waikato | M | No injury, no attack, shark took fish from back of kayak | Invalid |
| 12-13-2003 Night | NEW ZEALAND ,Cook Islands | Swimming / shipwreck | Teta Vaotiare | M /45 | FATAL | |
| 07-01-2003 | NEW ZEALAND ,Cook Islands | Snorkeling | Allen -- | M | Chest & buttocks bitten | Grey reef shark |
| 02-27-2003 11h45 | NEW ZEALAND ,Southland | Scuba diving | Alistair Kerr | M /44 | Arm lacerated (shark made 3 strikes) | 2.5 m [8.25'] white shark |
| 01-06-2001 | NEW ZEALAND ,North Island | Kayaking | Dr. Michael Hogan | M | No injury, kayak bitten | White shark |
| 12-01-2000 | NEW ZEALAND ,Cook Islands | Surfing | female | F | FATAL | |
| 06-29-2000 | NEW ZEALAND ,North Island | Fishing | inflatable dinghy, occupants: Craig Ward & Gavin John Halse | M | No injury, shark bit the dinghy | Mako shark, 2 m [6.75'] |
| 03-03-2000 | NEW ZEALAND ,North Island | Kayaking | Ricky Stringer | M /27 | Reported as shark attack but probable drowning | Shark involvement questionable |
| 02-03-2000 | NEW ZEALAND ,South Island | Surfing | Michael Petas | M /12 | No injury, wetsuit punctured | |
| 12-31-1999 | NEW ZEALAND ,South Island | Swimming | Jennifer McDowell | F /13 | Arm bitten | Sevengill shark |
| 12-31-1999 | NEW ZEALAND ,South Island | Surfing | Tim Wild | M /15 | Six puncture wounds on leg | Sevengill shark |
| 12-31-1999 | NEW ZEALAND ,South Island | Bathing | Genna Hayward | F /12 | A cut on her hand | Sevengill shark |
| 03-18-1999 | NEW ZEALAND ,South Island | Spearfishing & diving for paua | Zane Smith | M | No injury | Sevengill shark, 2.4 m [8'] |
| 03-14-1999 | NEW ZEALAND | Fishing | Mr. Spain | M /28 | Right thigh bitten PROVOKED INCIDENT | Mako shark, 1.3 m gaffed |
| 01-01-1999 | NEW ZEALAND ,North Island | Inflatable boat | No injury to occupant: boat lost | |||
| 09-06-1996 10h00 | NEW ZEALAND ,Chatham Islands | Diving for abalone | Vaughn Hill | M /23 | Back, arms & wrist severely lacerated | White shark |
| 11-11-1995 | NEW ZEALAND ,Chatham Islands, east of New Zealand | Diving, gathering shellfish | Kina Scollay | M /22 | Leg & chest lacerated | 5 m [16.5'] white shark |
| 04-24-1992 15h30 | NEW ZEALAND ,Antarctic Ocean | Snorkeling | Mike Fraser | M | Right forearm severed, left forearm lacerated & broken | 4 m [13'], 590-kg white shark |
| 01-16-1985 | NEW ZEALAND ,South Island | Investigating shark sighting | small speedboat, occupan: Paul McNally | No injury to occupant, shark bit boat | 6 m shark | |
| 01-02-1976 13h00 | NEW ZEALAND ,North Island | Spearfishing | John Grainger Leith | M | FATAL | Bronze whaler shark |
| 10-10-1972 | NEW ZEALAND ,North Island | Swimming | Barry Kumara | M /17 | No injury, leg of jeans torn off | |
| 03-30-1971 10h20 | NEW ZEALAND ,South Island | Surfing | Barry Watkins | M /16 | Lacerations to left leg | White shark, 4.6 m [15'] |
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What kind of first aid is recommended if someone is bitten by a shark in New Zealand?
In the unlikely event of a shark bite in New Zealand, immediate first aid includes applying pressure to the wound to stop bleeding and seeking urgent medical help. It’s crucial to keep the patient calm and still to prevent exacerbating the injury. New Zealand’s medical establishments are equipped to provide rapid response and intervention for such incidents, prioritizing the victim’s safety and recovery.
Are there any patterns or trends observed in shark attacks in New Zealand?
In New Zealand, shark attacks are extremely rare, with no consistent trends or patterns reported. The sporadic nature of these encounters, coupled with the country’s vigilant safety measures, ensures that New Zealand’s beaches remain safe for local and international visitors.
What are the most common locations in New Zealand for shark attacks?
In New Zealand, shark encounters are infrequent, but on the rare occasions they do occur, they are more likely to be reported in areas such as the Bay of Plenty and Maunganui Bluff to North Cape. These regions, renowned for their beautiful beaches and surf spots, have seen a few isolated incidents in the past. However, it is important to remember that shark attacks in New Zealand are extremely rare, and the country’s beaches are generally very safe.
