A pod of rare whales was spotted off Dunedin’s coast – the first such sighting in New Zealand waters.

The Shepherd’s Beaked Whales were spotted from a University of Otago Research vessel in late June.

The Shepherd’s Beaked Whale, Tasmacetus shepherdii, is one of the least known cetaceans in the world, and was previously known from only nine confirmed sightings in the world of live members of the species, and 55 strandings of dead whales.

Dr Will Rayment, from Otago’s Department of Marine Science, led a survey expedition of the submarine canyons off the Otago coast aboard the vessel Polaris II.

“There have previously been no confirmed sightings in New Zealand waters, although New Zealand is the world’s stranding hotspot for the species.”

On June 28 five of the whales were spotted about 30km east of Taiaroa Head.

“Amazingly, the very next day, the team made another sighting of the rare species, this time a group of three in the Saunders Canyon, also off the coast of Dunedin.”

“Both sightings have been confirmed as Shepherd’s Beaked Whales by Anton van Helden, the country’s beaked whale expert.”

“The team saw a range of seabird and marine mammal species, but the highlight was undoubtedly the two sightings of this rare and elusive whale.”