Tauranga has received a surprise visitor - a rare and highly venomous sea krait.
The creature was discovered at the Tauranga Bridge Marina on Sunday, and has been identified as a banded sea krait.
"We had an unusual visitor the other day," the marina says on Facebook.
"Sea snakes and kraits are occasional visitors to New Zealand's waters, arriving here naturally from time to time on ocean currents.
"Please be aware sea snakes and kraits are highly venomous but, as they are docile creatures, there is no record of anyone in New Zealand being bitten."
The kraits are normally found in the reef systems around Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia, where they feed on eels. Experts say the one in Tauranga likely came to New Zealand on warmer ocean currents.
Once here, they are considered a native species under the Wildlife Act 1953, and it's illegal to kill or harass them.
Unfortunately, they're unlikely to survive long in New Zealand due to our harsher conditions. Nevertheless, the Department of Conservation says if you find a sea snake or krait to keep well away and call 0800 DOC HOT.
Newshub.
