A woman has died after an apparent shark attack at a popular New Zealand beach, police have said.
Police were called to Waihi Beach on the east coast of the North Island in the early evening following reports a woman had been injured in the water.
Police said in a statement: "Initial indications suggest she may have been injured by a shark. Sadly she died at the scene a short time later."
Local media reported that the woman was pulled from the water at the beach, located about a two-hour drive southeast of Auckland, with wounds on at least one leg.
If confirmed, it would be the 25th shark attack fatality recorded in New Zealand and the first in seven years since a 46-year-old man died at Muriwai near Auckland.
The last shark attack in New Zealand was in 2018 at Baylys Beach, northwest of Auckland, although it was not fatal, according to the New Zealand police website.
Waihi Beach promotes itself as "one of New Zealand's safest surf beaches and home to a vibrant and friendly beachside community".
However, there have been occasional shark sightings in the area in recent years including a 3.5 metre male last February.
