Swimmers at popular Papamoa Beach were told to get out of the water after two sharks were sighted this afternoon.
Shortly before 2.30pm, people were called in as lifeguards were seen rushing out on boats.
A Herald reporter on the ground said: "They were waving their inflatable[s], blowing the whistle and announced it over the loudspeaker.
"A lifeguard said there were two bronze whalers a bit further down the beach.