Wellingtonians treated to another show from the visiting southern right whale.

Wellington's Matariki fireworks display has been postponed for a week because of the whale in the harbour that has been charming locals and occupying the Interislander ferry's parking spot.

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Acting Wellington Mayor Jill Day said the call to postpone the fireworks was made on Friday afternoon after taking advice from the Department of Conservation (DOC) and mana whenua.

DEREK QUINN/SNPA The rare Southern Right whale swimming in Wellington Harbour, just off from the ferry terminal.

"The advice we've received is that the noise from the fireworks is unlikely to cause harm to the whale but that it could cause it to act unpredictably if it is in the vicinity," Day said.

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* Wellington's Matariki fireworks may be postponed because of visiting whale

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"We don't want anyone in boats or kayaks on the water, in the dark, to come off second-best if the whale breaches among them. We also don't want the whale to be injured in any contact with a vessel."

Day said there had been strong iwi and public sentiment in favour of a postponement.

"Wellingtonians have fallen in love with this whale – this taonga - and they've been telling us they don't want anything untoward to happen to it. The whale's presence is a true blessing for Matariki."



The council would continue to speak with interested parties – including the Harbourmaster, iwi and police – about how to deal with the situation if the rare southern rite whale was still in the harbour next weekend, she said.



"We think we can find a solution that enables us to celebrate our harbour visitor and watch a stunning fireworks display."

BIGGER DANGER WAS TO HUMANS

NIWA NEW ZEALAND/SUPPLIED Footage of the southern right whale visiting Wellington Harbour, including some biopsy dart sampling and recovery carried out by the Department of Conservation.

Department of Conservation marine species threats manager Ian Angus said its experts consulted with the University of Auckland to determine the risks to the whale during a fireworks display.

"Our primary concern is increased vessel traffic, including risk of vessel strike and increased underwater noise from vessels," he said.

"Our experts' opinion is that the noise of the actual fireworks will be significantly muted underwater and is unlikely to harm the whale."

KARL HALVORSEN/SUPPLIED The southern right whale surfaces behind a Niwa research boat in Wellington Harbour.

SPCA chief executive Andrea Midgen said the organisation had urged the council to delay the fireworks.

"We need to protect this southern right whale from fear and distress, something that many animals suffer during firework events."

FERRY CIRCLES WHILE WHALE FROLICS

The whale was spotted breaching again near the Interislander Ferry terminal on Friday morning.

As a result, the Interislander's Kaiarahi ferry could be seen circling the whale, unable to berth because the mammal was in its path.

Interislander general manager Mark Thompson said crew had been sounding the ship's horn to warn off the whale. It waited for more than 30 minutes for the whale to move.

MARINETRAFFIC.COM The Kaiarahi Intersialnder Ferry had to take a detour on its way into dock - apparently because the whale was in the way.

"We regret the inconvenience, but we are sure that our passengers understand, and took advantage of the chance to see our visitor."

THE WHALE IS HERE FOR LOVE

The southern right whale has collected plenty of admirers in the capital, with many people crowding the waterfront – and the water – to get a good look at it.

Nadine Bott, from the Department of Conservation, said the whale could be breaching and slapping its tail to make more noise, to attract other whales or a mate.

She suspected it was a male from its behaviour.

This was the time of year the whale should be breeding, but it could be struggling to find another whale, she said.

"It could be looking for a mate, but there's not many around the mainland."

Bott had also seen signs of aggression from the whale based on pictures and videos – signs the public would not recognise.

Breaching was generally not aggressive unless the whale was getting closer and closer to a boat. But earlier in the week, she saw the whale aggressively "head lunging", or raising its head from the water, to create a wake.

Allan Mansfield/Supplied A rare southern right whale in Wellington Harbour entertains onlookers.

Department of Conservation marine species support officer Hannah Hendriks said DOC had not named the whale. The gender was unknown until biopsy results from Niwa were processed.

It was normal for a whale to stay in one place for so long, and to breach often, she said.

The "acrobatic" whale could be reacting to a range of new experiences in Wellington both positive and negative, she said.

DON'T GET TOO CLOSE

Wellington Harbour Master Grant Nalder said people were complaining on social media about boats getting too close, but photos would make the whale look closer to the boat than it really was.

"I am not aware of any close accidents."

Boats should be approaching the whale from the side, or the back, he said. Kayakers, dingys and paddle boarders needed to take extra care.

"If it comes up beside a kayaker, and flips out a flipper, it could do some real damage."

The Marine Mammals Protection Regulations 1992 says no more than three vessels and/or aircraft should be within 300 metres of any marine mammal, and each vessel needs to be at least 50m away.

The Police Maritime Unit has been in the harbour this week monitoring boats.

Constable Thomas Usher said no one had got too close. "Everyone has been well behaved. They have kept a good distance from the whale."