Historical Shark Attacks In South Island, New Zealand

South Island, New Zealand is a beautiful place with sandy beaches, clear waters, and stunning nature.

It is a great spot for people who like the beach and outdoor activities, like swimming and surfing.

The waters around South Island can have sharks like the Great White, Bronze Whaler, and Make Sharks.

While shark sightings are possible, shark attacks on people are very rare in New Zealand.

The country has plans to keep beach goers safe.

So if you enjoy the beach and nature, South Island is the place to be.

Understanding our data at South Island

In our comprehensive overview of south island, the data presented in this article is compiled from a variety of public sources, providing a consolidated view of shark encounters by beach.

As you explore the data, it is important to note that while we have organized the information by specific areas, neighboring areas may also have their own detailed posts.

We encourage you to utilize the search function on our website to discover unique posts that may pertain to nearby locations.

Given the unpredictable and often chaotic circumstances surrounding shark attacks, some of the details within our tables have been inferred post-incident.

This is a common practice in the documentation of such events, due to factors like the rapid response required at the scene and the retrospective nature of assembling such data.

Our aim is to offer a resource that not only informs but also enhances awareness and safety practices for all who venture into the marine environment.

As you navigate through the information, we hope it serves as a reminder of the respect and caution that our florida beaches command.

Recorded Attack #1

Area	South Island
Location	Oreti Beach
Date	1999-12-31
Year	1999
Type	Unprovoked
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Surfing
Name	Tim Wild
Sex	M
Age	15.0
Injury	Six Puncture Wounds On Leg
Fatal	N
Time	N/A
Species	Sevengill Shark

Recorded Attack #2

Area	South Island
Location	Dunedin
Date	1971-03-30
Year	1971
Type	Unprovoked
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Surfing
Name	Barry Watkins
Sex	M
Age	16.0
Injury	Lacerations To Left Leg
Fatal	N
Time	10H20
Species	White Shark, 4.6 M [15']

Recorded Attack #3

Area	South Island
Location	Downs River
Date	1893-01-30
Year	1893
Type	Unprovoked
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Bathing
Name	Donald Mckenzie
Sex	M
Age	N/A
Injury	Fatal
Fatal	Y
Time	N/A
Species	N/A

Recorded Attack #4

Area	South Island
Location	Near The Mouth Of The Clarence River
Date	1886-04-11
Year	1886
Type	Invalid
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Sea Disaster : Wreck Of The Taiaroa
Name	Male
Sex	M
Age	N/A
Injury	Probable Drowning & Scavenging
Fatal	Unknown
Time	N/A
Species	Shark Involvement Prior To Death Unconfirmed

Recorded Attack #5

Area	South Island
Location	St. Kilda Beach
Date	1967-03-09
Year	1967
Type	Unprovoked
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Lifesaving Drill
Name	William Black
Sex	M
Age	21.0
Injury	Fatal, Seen Taken By A Shark
Fatal	Y
Time	19H45
Species	Thought To Involve A White Shark

Recorded Attack #6

Area	South Island
Location	Clark Island
Date	2009-12-16
Year	2009
Type	Unprovoked
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Swimming To Shore From Capsized Kayak
Name	Maurice Bede Philips
Sex	M
Age	24
Injury	Fatal
Fatal	Y
Time	N/A
Species	White Shark, 2.8 To 3 M

Recorded Attack #7

Area	South Island
Location	Porpoise Bay
Date	2014-02-07
Year	2014
Type	Unprovoked
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Surfing
Name	Darren Mills
Sex	M
Age	28
Injury	Lacerations To Leg
Fatal	N
Time	20H30
Species	7-Gill Shark?

Recorded Attack #8

Area	South Island
Location	Pororari River
Date	2021-12-25
Year	2021
Type	Unprovoked
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Swimming
Name	Cordelia Scott
Sex	F
Age	9.0
Injury	Laceration To Big Toe
Fatal	N
Time	N/A
Species	N/A

Recorded Attack #9

Area	South Island
Location	Pigeon Bay, Canterbury
Date	1962-01-16
Year	1962
Type	Provoked
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Fishing
Name	Mr. Reynish & Mr. Meikle
Sex	N/A
Age	N/A
Injury	No Injury To Occupants, Hooked Shark Attacked Boat Provoked Incident
Fatal	N
Time	N/A
Species	Said To Involve A 4.9 M [16'] Red Shark

Recorded Attack #10

Area	South Island
Location	Menzies Bay, Banks Peninsula,
Date	1927-02-01
Year	1927
Type	Provoked
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Fishing
Name	Male
Sex	M
Age	70.0
Injury	Severely Bitten By Shark Caught 30 Minutes Earlier Provoked Incident
Fatal	N
Time	N/A
Species	Mako Shark

Recorded Attack #11

Area	South Island
Location	Cobden
Date	2022-03-15
Year	2022
Type	Unprovoked
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Surfing
Name	Carl Colville
Sex	M
Age	N/A
Injury	No Injury, Shark Leapt On Surfboard
Fatal	N
Time	N/A
Species	N/A

Recorded Attack #12

Area	South Island
Location	Charteris Bay, Lyttleton Harbour
Date	1963-11-30
Year	1963
Type	Unprovoked
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Treading Water While Alongside Capsized Yacht
Name	Charlie Dudley
Sex	M
Age	20
Injury	Hand & Lower Leg Severely Injured
Fatal	N
Time	13H00
Species	Possibly A Broadnose 7-Gill Shark

Recorded Attack #13

Area	South Island
Location	Port Moeraki
Date	1907-02-05
Year	1907
Type	Unprovoked
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Standing
Name	Mr. W. H. Hutcheson
Sex	M
Age	55.0
Injury	Fatal, Leg Severely Bitten
Fatal	Y
Time	N/A
Species	N/A

Recorded Attack #14

Area	South Island
Location	Cosy Nook
Date	2010-02-06
Year	2010
Type	Provoked
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Spearfishing
Name	Aaron Muilwyk
Sex	M
Age	N/A
Injury	No Injury, Shark Bit His Speargun After He Used It To Prod The Shark Provoked Incident
Fatal	N
Time	N/A
Species	2 M To 3 M Shark

Recorded Attack #15

Area	South Island
Location	Oreti Beach (Reported As The 4Th Person Bitten In Nz In 2000)
Date	2000-02-03
Year	2000
Type	Unprovoked
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Surfing
Name	Michael Petas
Sex	M
Age	12.0
Injury	No Injury, Wetsuit Punctured
Fatal	N
Time	N/A
Species	N/A

Recorded Attack #16

Area	South Island
Location	St. Clair Beach, Dunedin
Date	1964-02-05
Year	1964
Type	Unprovoked
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Swimming
Name	Leslie Francis Jordan
Sex	M
Age	19.0
Injury	Fatal, Both Legs Bitten & Right Leg Severed At Knee
Fatal	Y
Time	06H45
Species	White Shark, 3 M To 3.7 M [10' To 12']

Recorded Attack #17

Area	South Island
Location	Ngatuka Bay, Near Picton
Date	1964-02-01
Year	1964
Type	Watercraft
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Rowing
Name	Dinghy, Occupants: T. Shipston, T. Whitta, L Cox, T. Jones, R. Genet & W. Pearce
Sex	N/A
Age	N/A
Injury	No Injury To Occupants , Shark Nudged Oars
Fatal	N
Time	12H00
Species	1.8 M [6'] Shark

Recorded Attack #18

Area	South Island
Location	Friendly Bay, Oamaru
Date	2022-01-09
Year	2022
Type	Unprovoked
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Swimming
Name	Alvira Repia-King
Sex	F
Age	13.0
Injury	Puncture Wounds
Fatal	N
Time	16H30
Species	Sevengill Shark

Recorded Attack #19

Area	South Island
Location	Garden Bay Near Cosy Nook
Date	2014-01-25
Year	2014
Type	Unprovoked
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Spearfishing
Name	James Grant
Sex	M
Age	24
Injury	Minor Injury To Left Lower Leg & Heel
Fatal	N
Time	N/A
Species	7-Gill Shark

Recorded Attack #20

Area	South Island
Location	Dunedin
Date	1886-03-06
Year	1886
Type	Invalid
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Bathing
Name	Rodwell
Sex	M
Age	N/A
Injury	Left Leg Severed. Probably Confusion With Gsaf 1886.01.28
Fatal	Unknown
Time	N/A
Species	Questionable

Recorded Attack #21

Area	South Island
Location	Lyttleton?
Date	1862-12-04
Year	1862
Type	Invalid
Country	New Zealand
Activity	N/A
Name	N/A
Sex	N/A
Age	N/A
Injury	N/A
Fatal	Unknown
Time	N/A
Species	Questionable Incident

Recorded Attack #22

Area	South Island
Location	Sunday Cove, Fiordland
Date	2012-12-01
Year	2012
Type	Unprovoked
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Scuba Diving
Name	Jenny Oliver
Sex	F
Age	25
Injury	No Injury, Shark Grabbed Hood
Fatal	N
Time	N/A
Species	Seven-Gill Shark

Recorded Attack #23

Area	South Island
Location	Oreti Beach
Date	1999-12-31
Year	1999
Type	Unprovoked
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Swimming
Name	Jennifer Mcdowell
Sex	F
Age	13.0
Injury	Arm Bitten
Fatal	N
Time	N/A
Species	Sevengill Shark

Recorded Attack #24

Area	South Island
Location	St. Clair Beach, Dunedin
Date	1968-12-25
Year	1968
Type	Unprovoked
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Surfing
Name	Gary Barton
Sex	M
Age	17.0
Injury	Hit In Face By Shark, Arm Abraded, Surfboard Bitten
Fatal	N
Time	17H45
Species	White Shark

Recorded Attack #25

Area	South Island
Location	Karitane Beach
Date	2009-01-16
Year	2009
Type	Unprovoked
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Surfing
Name	Tane Tokona
Sex	M
Age	N/A
Injury	No Injury, Bumped Off Board By The Shark
Fatal	N
Time	N/A
Species	N/A

Recorded Attack #26

Area	South Island
Location	South Beach
Date	2004-02-26
Year	2004
Type	Unprovoked
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Surfing
Name	Chris Blair
Sex	M
Age	15.0
Injury	Thigh Lacerated
Fatal	N
Time	19H00
Species	2 M [6.75'] Sevengill Shark

Recorded Attack #27

Area	South Island
Location	Oreti Beach
Date	1962-01-27
Year	1962
Type	Unprovoked
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Splashing
Name	Norman Mcewan
Sex	M
Age	18.0
Injury	Left Hand Injured: Gash On Back Of Hand, Toothmarks On Palm
Fatal	N
Time	16H00
Species	1.5 M [5'] Shark

Recorded Attack #28

Area	South Island
Location	Tahunanui Beach
Date	N/A
Year	2010
Type	Unprovoked
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Swimming
Name	Paul Baird
Sex	M
Age	N/A
Injury	Bruised But Otherwise Unhurt
Fatal	N
Time	Night
Species	Possibly A Blue Shark

Recorded Attack #29

Area	South Island
Location	Oamaru
Date	1888-02-17
Year	1888
Type	Unprovoked
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Floating On His Back
Name	David Grant
Sex	M
Age	N/A
Injury	Arm Severely Lacerated, Surgically Amputated
Fatal	N
Time	06H00
Species	Unknown, But The Shark Was Caught And Put On Exhibition

Recorded Attack #30

Area	South Island
Location	Snapper Point
Date	2011-04-16
Year	2011
Type	Unprovoked
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Surfing
Name	Laine Hobson
Sex	M
Age	41
Injury	Puncture To Left Hand
Fatal	N
Time	Afternoon
Species	Possibly A Bronze Whaler Shark

Recorded Attack #31

Area	South Island
Location	Kaikoura
Date	2007-12-09
Year	2007
Type	Unprovoked
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Surfing
Name	Olivia Hislop
Sex	F
Age	N/A
Injury	No Injury, Shark Bit Surfboard & Severed Leash
Fatal	N
Time	N/A
Species	N/A

Recorded Attack #32

Area	South Island
Location	Otago Harbor
Date	1968-09-15
Year	1968
Type	Unprovoked
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Spearfishing
Name	Graham Hitt
Sex	M
Age	24.0
Injury	Fatal, Left Leg Bitten, Femoral Artery Severed
Fatal	Y
Time	10H15
Species	White Shark, 4.3 M [14'], (Tooth Fragment Recovered)

Recorded Attack #33

Area	South Island
Location	Campbell’S Point
Date	1880-01-01
Year	1880
Type	Unprovoked
Country	New Zealand
Activity	N/A
Name	Male
Sex	M
Age	N/A
Injury	Recovered
Fatal	N
Time	N/A
Species	N/A

Recorded Attack #34

Area	South Island
Location	Hoiktika
Date	1896-12-17
Year	1896
Type	Unprovoked
Country	New Zealand
Activity	N/A
Name	E. Reynolds
Sex	M
Age	N/A
Injury	Fatal
Fatal	Y
Time	N/A
Species	N/A

Recorded Attack #35

Area	South Island
Location	Oreti Beach
Date	2010-02-01
Year	2010
Type	Provoked
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Boogie Boarding
Name	Lydia Ward
Sex	F
Age	14
Injury	Stepped On Shark Provoked Incident
Fatal	N
Time	18H30
Species	1.5 M Shark

Recorded Attack #36

Area	South Island
Location	Oreti Beach
Date	1999-12-31
Year	1999
Type	Unprovoked
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Bathing
Name	Genna Hayward
Sex	F
Age	12.0
Injury	A Cut On Her Hand
Fatal	N
Time	N/A
Species	Sevengill Shark

Recorded Attack #37

Area	South Island
Location	Tahuna Beach, Nelson
Date	1919-01-15
Year	1919
Type	Unprovoked
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Swimming
Name	Female
Sex	F
Age	N/A
Injury	Leg Bitten
Fatal	N
Time	Afternoon
Species	N/A

Recorded Attack #38

Area	South Island
Location	Porpoise Bay, Catlins
Date	2017-04-27
Year	2017
Type	Unprovoked
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Body Boarding
Name	Female
Sex	F
Age	20S
Injury	Puncture Wounds & Laceration Above Knee
Fatal	N
Time	14H00
Species	N/A

Recorded Attack #39

Area	South Island
Location	Marfells Beach
Date	2008-01-19
Year	2008
Type	Invalid
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Wading
Name	Matthew O'Neill
Sex	M
Age	N/A
Injury	Stingray Envenomation, Not A Shark
Fatal	Unknown
Time	N/A
Species	No Shark Involvement

Recorded Attack #40

Area	South Island
Location	Codfish Island (Whenua Hau) West Of Stewart Island
Date	1999-03-18
Year	1999
Type	Unprovoked
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Spearfishing & Diving For Paua
Name	Zane Smith
Sex	M
Age	N/A
Injury	No Injury
Fatal	N
Time	N/A
Species	Sevengill Shark, 2.4 M [8']

Recorded Attack #41

Area	South Island
Location	Christchurch
Date	1985-01-16
Year	1985
Type	Watercraft
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Investigating Shark Sighting
Name	Small Speedboat, Occupan: Paul Mcnally
Sex	N/A
Age	N/A
Injury	No Injury To Occupant, Shark Bit Boat
Fatal	N
Time	N/A
Species	6 M Shark

Recorded Attack #42

Area	South Island
Location	Fairdown Beach, 5 Miles North Of Westport
Date	1962-01-11
Year	1962
Type	Unprovoked
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Surf Fishing
Name	Mrs. Beryl Grant
Sex	F
Age	54.0
Injury	Right Foot Lacerated
Fatal	N
Time	18H00
Species	36 Shark

Recorded Attack #43

Area	South Island
Location	New Brighton
Date	1882-12-03
Year	1882
Type	Provoked
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Restraining A Beached Shark
Name	Mr. Hill
Sex	M
Age	N/A
Injury	Hand Severely Nipped Provoked Incident
Fatal	N
Time	N/A
Species	4' To 5' Shark

Recorded Attack #44

Area	South Island
Location	Oreti Beach
Date	2019-01-29
Year	2019
Type	Invalid
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Boogie Boarding
Name	Female
Sex	F
Age	17.0
Injury	Gash To Thigh
Fatal	N
Time	Evening
Species	Reported As Shark Bite But Injury Caused By Stingray

Recorded Attack #45

Area	South Island
Location	Oamaru
Date	1895-04-23
Year	1895
Type	Unprovoked
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Swimming
Name	Percy Mitchell
Sex	M
Age	N/A
Injury	Lacerations To Foot
Fatal	N
Time	Early Morning
Species	N/A

Recorded Attack #46

Area	South Island
Location	Preservation Inlet
Date	1895-05-03
Year	1895
Type	Unprovoked
Country	New Zealand
Activity	Boat Accident
Name	James Cromarty
Sex	M
Age	N/A
Injury	Fatal Thigh Bitten
Fatal	Y
Time	N/A
Species	N/A

Check Out Some Of Our Other Shark Attack Posts

Here we have 5 posts going over some other nearby beaches where shark attacks have happened

Historical Shark Attacks In Tinian And Leyte, Philippines
Historical Shark Attacks In Savona, Italy
Historical Shark Attacks In Gilbert Islands, Kiribati
Historical Shark Attacks In North Palawan, Philippines
Historical Shark Attacks In Cook Islands, New Zealand