New Zealand · 2009—2026
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.
- Total reports
- 31
- Latest observation
Public reports · newest first
Public records archive
17 January—8 September
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8 of 31 reports
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Explore by area
Markers represent broad named areas, never exact observation locations. Select an area to filter the archive.
8 of 8 reports mapped · 6 areas
- Bay of Plenty1 report
- Kaikōura3 reports
- Manawatū-Whanganui1 report
- Otago1 report
- Taranaki1 report
- Wellington1 report
Map: Natural Earth.
Reports over time
All datesSelect a year, then a month. Counts describe published reports; one animal may appear in several reports.
Months in 2026
Grouped by each record’s archive date. Approximate dates keep their original labels in the records below.
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Date: 2026Reported: Unidentified Rangitīkei District Council; Greg Carlyon — 8 September 2026
Observation: The council reported a New Zealand fur seal pup paddling in puddles on the college hockey turf. Animal Control returned it to the sea via Scotts Ferry with DOC guidance. Its route inland was unknown.
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Date: 2026Reported: Unidentified Department of Conservation — 7 September 2026
Observation: A female leopard seal, approximately three metres long, rested at Petone Beach over the weekend. DOC said it was first reported on Friday night and returned to the sea early Monday.
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Date: 2026Reported: Unidentified Department of Conservation — 6 August 2026
Observation: DOC reported a juvenile male leopard seal, about 1.7 metres long, resting in the centre lane of the Sulphur Point boat ramp. It returned to the sea after several days.
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Date: 2026Reported: 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.
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Date: 2026Reported: 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.
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Date: 2026Reported: Unidentified RNZ, republished by Evening Report — 5 February 2026
Observation: A seal pup was photographed outside Chaos Cafe in central New Plymouth. Police guided it back towards the Huatoki Stream and foreshore.
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Date: 2026Reported: Unidentified Wildlife Travel — Michael Blencowe, January 2026 trip report
Observation: New Zealand fur seals were observed on the shore during a wildlife cruise along the Otago Peninsula. No count was given.
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Date: 2026Reported: 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.