New Zealand fur seal / kekeno

Seals around New Zealand.

Follow public seal observations from New Zealand. Browse published records, explore the places and stories behind them, or share an encounter with the Seal Watch team.

Meet the New Zealand fur seal / kekeno →

Total reports
31
Latest observation

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Public records archive

17 January—21 April

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3 of 31 reports

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Markers represent broad named areas, never exact observation locations. Select an area to filter the archive.

8 of 8 reports mapped · 6 areas

N ↑Bay of Plenty · 1 report1Kaikōura · 3 reports2Manawatū-Whanganui · 1 report3Otago · 1 report4Taranaki · 1 report5Wellington · 1 report6

Map: Natural Earth.

Reports over time

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Select a year, then a month. Counts describe published reports; one animal may appear in several reports.

  1. 32026

Months in 2026

  1. 1Jan
  2. 0Feb
  3. 1Mar
  4. 1Apr
  5. 0May
  6. 0Jun
  7. 0Jul
  8. 0Aug
  9. 0Sep
  10. 0Oct
  11. 0Nov
  12. 0Dec

Grouped by each record’s archive date. Approximate dates keep their original labels in the records below.

  1. Date: 2026
    Reported: Unidentified See-u-Later — Peter, travel diary published 23 April 2026

    Observation: A first-hand travel diary records a coastal seal colony north of Kaikōura, with pups swimming in a natural pool and nursing. The author did not name the site or give a count.

  2. Date: 2026
    Place: Kaikōura Peninsula Kaikōura
    Reported: Unidentified 1News — 11 March 2026

    Observation: Video showed a New Zealand fur seal at the peninsula colony as a visitor threw seaweed at it. DOC said it was investigating the reported disturbance.

  3. Date: 2026
    Place: Ōhau Point Kaikōura
    Reported: Unidentified Wildlife Travel — Michael Blencowe, January 2026 trip report

    Observation: A visiting wildlife group observed a colony of New Zealand fur seals resting on rocks and swimming at Ōhau Point. No count was given.