A cruise industry consultant says New Zealand risks missing out on most of the boom in the sector by not giving passengers what they want.

Ambitious plans to create a $150 million world-class marine industry precinct at Hobsonville near a vast new housing estate have met with a limp reception.

A push is being made for Cape Kidnappers beach warning signs to be done in several languages in an attempt to avoid a repeat of a Friday night rescue from a beach isolated by the rising tide.

The Department of Conservation (DoC) is on the look-out again for migrating southern right whales and it wants your help.

Female seahorses have got this pregnancy caper worked out. They place their eggs, sometimes hundreds or thousands, into a special pouch in the male's stomach and let him do all the hard work while they go about their business unencumbered by kids.

Severe weather which hit the Bay of Plenty over the weekend, including swells of up to four metres at Astrolabe Reef, have caused the release of plastic beads from a damaged container in the sunken stern of the Rena.

A Navy diver says he nearly drowned when his mask failed while he was deep in the sea to retrieve the plane wreckage in which 2degrees boss Eric Hertz and his wife died.

Authorities have blasted the actions of a group of yachties in Tauranga after a cargo ship had to take evasive action to avoid them.

A fisherman rescued from his sinking boat on Friday had survived a similar incident three years ago.

Sam Judd checks out freefishheads.co.nz - a website devoted to finding a grateful home for what is otherwise considered waste from the sea.