Swimmers linger in shark-infested waters 

Even a two-metre bronze whaler shark circling at the southern end of Pukehina Beach in the Bay of Plenty wasn't enough to keep beachgoers out of the water yesterday.

After the first sighting of the shark was reported at 11am, Nora Moeke from the Pukehina Regional Lifeguard Patrol ordered swimmers from the water as she confirmed the presence of the shark swimming around in the waves about 20-30m from shore.

Beachgoers were ordered not to enter the water at that end of the beach, but despite those warnings some people continued to swim.

Ms Moeke said people at the northern end of the beach were also warned about the shark's presence because of the creature's unpredictable nature.

"It was disappointing that people ignored our advice, because if they had got into trouble they would also have put our lives at risk too."

She said the last sighting of the shark was made about 3pm.

Pukehina beach is situated about halfway between Tauranga and Whakatane.

Lifeguards there also had to cope with a long hole or trench right along most of the beach in the shallow waters, and almost every day they have had to assist with boats broken down, particularly those stuck on the bar.

Meanwhile, despite no major rescues, lifeguards at Mount Maunganui and Papamoa had their busiest day of the year yesterday, with at least 4000 people on the beach and hundreds in the sea as the water temperature reached 19.5C.

Lifeguards erected warning signs at Tay St Beach as rips developed. At Papamoa, lifeguards were kept busy helping children and directing swimmers away from rips.

- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES