A group of fishermen were diving for kina over the weekend when they came face to face with a pod of killer whales.
On Sunday, the group were diving off Peach Cove on Whangārei Heads when they spotted the orcas.
Mohi Kingi uploaded the encounter onto TikTok with the caption: "Went to get a kai and almost became the kai."
On Monday, Kingi told AM he was waiting for the rest of the group to come back onto the boat when his mate Jason Paraha yelled out to him.
"I was emptying the kinas out when all of a sudden I heard him [Paraha] yell out 'killer whale!' and 'look up!' and the next thing you know they were scrambling to get on the boat," Kingi told AM.
Kingi added: "I wasn't even paying attention. I was actually meant to be the lookout, so that would've been on me."
Kingi thought there were around six or seven orcas in the pod.
He told AM the pod were probably looking for sting rays in the area.
"They were young and in amongst the rocks, training and looking for [sting] rays"
The TikTok video has over 100,000 views and several people commented saying the orcas wouldn't have tried to attack them.
"They won't bite mate, take it easy, just wave hi next time you see one," one person commented
Another commented: "Killer whales would never attack humans they are too smart."
