A dangerous Antarctic marine creature has turned up on Wellington's south coast.
Leopard seals, usually from Antarctic and subantarctic regions, have slender bodies, large heads and massive jaws, and had been known to kill people, Conservation Department spokesman Matt Barnett said.
''Apart from a human, it's probably the most dangerous mammal you are likely to encounter on New Zealand shores.''
The leopard seal - estimated to be 2m long - appeared to be unwell and was lying on its side in the surf at the airport end of Lyall Bay, a witness said.
Barnett said the seals, which occasionally made their way to New Zealand shores, had killed people in Antarctica when looking for something to eat, he said.
About three or four of them had found their way to the North Island in recent years, though they were more common on the South Island.
''Our advice is to stay well clear of them. They will make a mess of your dog.
''The seals prey on a variety of species including fish and seabirds and are the only seals known to hunt and kill warm-blooded prey, including other seals.
Barnett advised people to keep dogs and small children well away from the seal, avoid getting within 20 metres of it, not to get between it and the water, and not to feed or touch it.
Carmel Levy, from the Ekim burger caravan on Lyall Bay, called Department of Conservation when she arrived to work about 10am.
The seal had a cut up back tail and some onlookers had speculated it had a broken back - though this was unconfirmed.
''There was a few people on the beach earlier who thought it was a good idea to get a stick and push it back in the sea,'' she said.
Others had got very close to the creature and it had tried to shuffle away, she said.
