KEY POINTS:
This summer's scorching temperatures are the most likely reason for the high number of shark sightings in New Zealand waters this month.
But shark expert John Montgomery says that could reflect more people in the water, rather than more sharks.
"Obviously more people are out and about at this time of year," said Professor Montgomery, who is director of the Leigh Marine Laboratory at the University of Auckland.
"We have had a patch of calm weather so they're more visible than usual. The water is warmer which is attracting them.
"They tend to hang out on the ocean coast more than in the harbour per se."
He said activities such as spearfishing could also attract sharks.
"They might hear the speargun and come over to see what's going on. A bronze whaler was spotted by some spearfishers at Leigh (about 15km north of Omaha) a couple of years ago but I haven't heard of it happening this year."
Bronze whalers were not typically aggressive but it would pay to get out of the water if you came into contact with one. However if you were unable to escape, a good thump might deter it.
"If you got close enough you could hit it on the nose and it would probably scare it off."
