A Japanese whaling ship is reported to have tailed an anti-whaling ship into waters off Otago against the wishes of the NZ Govt, which labelled the move 'disrespectful'.

'When it first happened I was like, I'm not even getting in the bathtub again.' But surfer Darren Mills has changed his mind, after his shark encounter.

The Government should strongly censure Japan after one of its whaling vessels entered New Zealand's waters, the Green Party says.

Friends of experienced diver Bruce Porter have reacted with shock to his death after being hit by a boat.

Dramatic details of surfer Darren Mills' lucky escape from a shark attack emerged yesterday, as the British immigrant began his recovery from serious injuries.

'Wow, this guy's a whopper,' said experts of a 1.5m monster jellyfish that washed up on a Hobart beach last month. So what does its sting feel like?

Tony Abbott's administration has been accused of being the most conservation-hostile in living memory.

Motorists and beach-goers are again being urged to keep an eye on a king tide that has caused issues in recent days.

They're the world's largest animal - and very elusive - so it's no wonder NIWA scientists are thrilled at the number of blue whales swimming in NZ waters right now.

King tides are due to wash up on Auckland's shores just after 10am today, and the New Zealand Transport Agency is warning people to take extra care on coastal roads.

A Mexican fisherman who says he drifted for months across the Pacific Ocean before washing up on a remote Marshall Islands atoll is on his way home.

King tides lure dozens out to play but expert warns people to take care in the current.

Eyes on the underwater world of New Zealand, photos by Richard Robinson. See more of his photos in this series at www.depth.co.nz.

The sole survivor of a boat capsize in Foveaux Strait which claimed the lives of eight people heard the screams of the only child on board just after a massive wave swamped the vessel in the middle of the night, a court has heard.

Anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd says it has boxed in the Japanese whaling fleet's factory ship, effectively suspending whaling in the Southern Ocean.

A key question in the trial of Easy Rider owner Gloria Davis is her knowledge of the safety issues surrounding the vessel.

The skipper of a boat that sank in Foveaux Strait resulting in the deaths of eight people made a catalogue of errors, the trial of his widow heard yesterday.

Washington and Tokyo have been drawn into an unexpected diplomatic spat over the annual slaughter of dolphins in Taiji.

Crab fishers leaving a beach strewn with chicken carcasses have outraged residents and conservationists at Omaha.

The widow of the Easy Rider skipper faces trial today over the vessel's deadly sinking in Foveaux Strait nearly two years ago.

A pod of orca whales has been spotted near the entrance to Akaroa Harbour on Banks Peninsula.

Now the pressure is off Stanley Paris and his failed attempt to circumnavigate the planet in 120 days, the 76-year-old has had time to mull over his future, and has not ruled out having another go at the world record.

The Government has defended its decision to award an $8 million ferry contract to a Bangladesh company rather than a local boat builder.

Govt defends decision to award $8m ferry contract to a Bangladesh firm