Great White Sharks In New Zealand

Posted on February 9th, 2006.

A six metre Great White shark has been frequently spotted off the coast of New Plymouth in New Zealand. One enterprising skipper is now running day trips to go and see it up close

After yesterday's item about a Great White shark being tracked swimming the 11000 mile journey from South Africa to Australia, it turns out New Zealand has its own apex predator to shout about. Dubbed the "Taranaki Terror", the six metre Great White has been seen several times off the coast of New Plymouth. New Zealand's TVOne has a very entertaining video snippet about skipper Dave Chadfield who now runs charters to go and try and spot the shark... and carries a wooden shark fin to chuck in the water if they're not successful. Twenty years ago they would've probably been out there with dynamite trying to kill it - now it's become a tourist attraction. There's another, longer article about the New Zealand shark at Stuff.co.nz too, which contains this priceless quote: "Tara had a camera with her, and she got it out and wanted me to chuck some fish into the water so it would come closer again and we could get a better picture – but I said no bloody way." [Story found at UnderWaterTimes.com]

Other Divehappy posts of interest:

• Stalked By A Great White Shark
• Jaws author Peter Benchley Dies
• Great White Sharks in Australia article and Neville Coleman Interview
• Diving With Great White Sharks: Rodney Fox
• Great White Shark Travels from South Africa to Australia

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