Terrifying yes, in danger no.

New Zealand orca expert Poppy Halliday​ has weighed in on a frightening video showing two orcas swimming with two swimming children.

On Thursday afternoon, an onlooker at Enclosure Bay at Waiheke Island off the coast of Auckland, videoed the moment two of the giant mammals, also known as killer whales, approached the children.

The video shows the children frantically trying to swim away before clinging to each other as the orcas flanked them, then cruised out to sea.