By Kim Choe
There has also been an increase in shark sightings in New Zealand, with several reported at Bay of Plenty and Northern beaches.
But was it enough to deter summer holidaymakers?
After the rigours of Christmas day, all many Kiwis wanted to do was relax on the beach – and the weather brought people out in droves.
Nobody seemed deterred by the increased sightings of sharks at North Island beaches.
Last month, Bronze Whalers were competing with fishermen for the game fish in the Bay of Plenty, now Thresher sharks have been seen close to shore.
Shark expert Clinton Duffy says it is normal for this time of year and even though some of those sighted have been over two metres long, swimmers should not be alarmed.
“Compared to other sharks, they have a very small mouth compared to their body size, and they have small teeth, and they're generally quite timid,” he says.
But even so, people should not take risks.
“If you see a shark in the water, the safest thing is just to get out of the water quickly and calmly, without panicking,” Mr Duffy says.
“Obviously if you panic it increases your chance of drowning, but also if you panic and thrash around in the water, it may excite the shark.”
Today, lifeguards were more concerned about keeping swimmers safe from the dangers of the water itself.
“The key messages are the same they've always been: swimming between the flags, not swimming alone, making sure you're listening to the lifeguards,” said David Butt, a lifeguard at Muriwai beach.
But you do not need to be a lifeguard to have a safety message.
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