Tauranga's Brandon Stone got a close look at a pod of 12 orca visiting the area on Thursday afternoon.

He first spotted the pod from his boat in Tauranga Harbour and tracked them around Mauao.

Brandon could see blood in the water as the pod fed on stingray.


Brandon Stone photographed this orca from his boat.

'There were so many. They were all around the boat.”

He estimates the animals were about eight metres in length.

'They were eating a lot, but they don't pose any threats to humans.”

He says the public should not swim with the orca, which have been in the area for about five days.

'They are regular visitors to Tauranga.”

More of Brandon's orca photographs.