See the video: Northlanders up close with humpback whale, as Whangārei Harbour listening starts:

A humpback whale has put on a stunning display in Northland, breaching in front of a boat off Whangārei’s coast.

The encounter occurred at the same time as a trial started of an AI-powered acoustic detection system in Whangārei Harbour, which will soon give real-time information about marine mammals in the harbour. …

The next day, Taylor was playing golf at Waipu Golf Club when he also saw a humpback whale - possibly the same one - breaching off Bream Bay.

Large whale breaching near a small boat.
Kyle Taylor says the humpback whale played around, off the coast from Whangārei’s Ocean Beach, for about 30 minutes on Saturday morning. Photo / Manaia Marine