A shark fin (file picture). Source: 1 NEWS
A spokesperson for Surf Life Saving NZ told 1 NEWS up to three sharks swam “past the beach” and swimmers were ordered out of the water.
A lifeguard in the watchtower says it happened around 1:30pm and the beach is still closed.
The sharks were not large and swimmers should be back in the water soon barring another sighting.
The SLNZ spokesperson says sightings in the area are common and the beach being shut due to this is not uncommon.
However, tensions are heightened after a Waihi shark attack left a young woman dead on Thursday.
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Hart said many locals are used to seeing sharks in the area. Photo credit: Philip Hart / Supplied They re a beautiful sight - when we go out we always hope to see whales or dolphins and if you don t see any of them we ll pop over to Matarangi and look at the sharks.
Shark sightings have been common during this year s holiday period. Three small sharks were spotted at the Coromandel s Paunui Beach on Saturday, just two days after 19-year-old Kaelah Marlow died of a suspected shark attack off Waihi Beach in the Bay of Plenty.
Kelly Tarltons Felix Berghoefer said in December that New Zealanders swimming in the ocean this summer will likely come within 200 to 300 metres of a shark.