Shark sightings force beach closures

Bronze whalers are generally harmless, but experts still advise heading to shore if you see any type of shark. Photo / Supplied

Shark sightings have forced beach closures more than 12 times this summer.

In the north of the country, Mangawhai, Omaha, Ruakaka and Waipu beaches have all been shut at least twice.

Other beaches closed by lifeguards include Omanu, Papamoa and Waihi in the Bay of Plenty, and Foxton and Himatangi in Manawatu.

A closure is when lifeguards take down their flags and order swimmers from the water. It can last from a few minutes to all day, depending how many sharks are spotted and how long they stick around for.

Lifeguards were trained to follow the same procedure with other sea creatures, including bluebottle jellyfish, stingrays, whales and dolphins.

Department of Conservation shark expert Clinton Duffy said although shark attacks on humans were rare in New Zealand, it was better to be safe than sorry.

"Any shark over 1.8m long should be considered potentially dangerous, simply because any animal that size is capable of inflicting fairly serious injuries."

The most commonly sighted shark is the bronze whaler, a fairly harmless creature that can reach 3m and likes warm waters near the coast.

But tiger sharks and even the infamous great white, can also show up.

Because it's hard for the layman to tell the difference, Duffy advises heading to shore if you see any shark.