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A seal has made its home at a public park, and despite concerns from some members of the public, conservation department staff say they have no plans to move it.
DoC's Whangarei bio-diversity manager Bryce Lumis said the seal was a young pup and enjoying feeding on mullet in a nearby stream.
"It's fine, as happy as Larry. It's a young seal trying to find it's way in the water system. It's probably been beaten up by older seals at some time," Mr Lumis said.
He said some members of the public were concerned because seals are territorial and bites can be toxic.
"But unless it's endangered or in an area where it could be threatened by cars then our policy is to leave it."
Signs have been put up in the well visited park, Mr Lumis said.
A medical inspection of the seal has been done and it's healthy, Mr Lumis said.
"It's using a concrete path as a temporary rock shelf, it's nice and warm there."
