“A team went out in a DoC vessel and located the pod of orca. We engaged with several vessels, providing details of the rules for operating vessels in the presence of marine mammals.”
A white boat chasing the orca around the harbour, driving straight over the top of them.
The video sparked a strong reaction online, with many commenters calling for those involved to be identified and reported.
“They should have boats confiscated for that,” one person wrote.
“I so hope they get done for this. Absolutely shocking behaviour,” another said.
Others suggested the behaviour breached marine mammal regulations.
Marine mammal protection rules restrict how craft can approach whales and dolphins and prohibits behaviour that may disturb them.
Whatton said the Department of Conservation was seeking any additional evidence of potentially non-compliant behaviour.
“We encourage any witnesses with photo or video evidence of non-compliant behaviour to contact DoC via info@doc.govt.nz, and for all water users to familiarise themselves with the rules.”
It is urging anyone with photos or video of the incident to come forward as it gathers information about what occurred in the harbour.
The sighting was the latest in a series of appearances by orca in Auckland waters, where the animals often draw crowds of boaties and spectators eager for a closer look.
Marine mammal conservation group Project Jonah previously told the Herald that orcas regularly enter Auckland’s harbours and shallow coastal waters while hunting rays.
“New Zealand orcas are the only ones in the world that feed on rays, and rays are shallow coastal animals,” the organisation said at the time.