Stardom appears to suit the elephant seal wallowing in Eastern Bay waters.
Affectionately named Momoa by locals, the summer visitor now has his own Facebook page with close to 500 members and is also on a "wanted to view" list of hundreds more who have expressed a desire to see the mammal up close.
Momoa, a juvenile male seal, was first photographed at Coastlands beach just before Christmas but has spent most of its time in and around the Whakatāne River.
YesterdayMomoa took a shine to a ute owned by Whakatāne Coastguard president Jim Williamson.