(File image). Photo: Gary Webber/ 123rf
Two hector's dolphins have been spotted in the Firth of Thames this week; the third time in 60 years they have appeared in the area.
A person spotted the dophins on Thursday near Sugarloaf Wharf at Te Kouma, a few kilometres south of Coromandel Town.
Hector's dolphins are classified as 'nationally vulnerable' and its subspecies of Māui dolphins are critically endangered, with about 54 animals around the west coast of the North Island.
The Department of Conservation was calling on people to report sightings to help locate the dophins, and determine which subspecies they belong to.