Pods of Orca are giving Auckland harbour users a show as the chase stingray.

A couple of large pods of orca have moved into permanent residence in Auckland's inner harbour.

And stretching out across the Waitemata and out into the Hauraki Gulf, it's getting pretty crowded… dolphins, whales and sharks.

Over the weekend as hundreds of motorists streamed over the Auckland Harbour Bridge above, a pod of six large orca, some with calves tucked close in, worked the bridge piers.

Michael Field AIRBORNE: Jumping dolphin.

They were looking for their favourite food – sting rays.

That alone suggests why Onehunga Lagoon on the Manukau Harbour is getting a reputation as a sting ray safe haven.

They can get in for a relatively undisturbed life and those that want to eat them can't.

Michael Field RARE SIGHT: Mysterious Bryde’s whale.

Sea temperatures have become a balmy 23 in the now vividly green, phytoplankton rich Waitemata, producing an explosion of sea life.

Out beyond Waiheke Island, between the Noises and Cape Colville, the green water gives way to the dark blue East Auckland Current, coming down from the tropics.

The place to be is where the green and blue meets.

Michael Field HIGH SPEED PASS: Hauraki dolphins.

The first clue from a way out is the hundreds of gannets diving into the ocean, seeking the large schools of small fish.

Get closer to the turmoil and suddenly there are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of common dolphins. They too have their calves with them and while feeding is a serious business – so is fun.

They love playing in the pressure bow wave of a boat and the faster, the better.

Michael Field FLOTILLA: Orca in the Waitemata harbour.

It was obvious this weekend that several mothers were teaching their young the joys of surfing off the stern wake.

Head a little north to a magic spot – Anchorite Rock. Waters around it are 50 metres deep. Anchorite only gets to within 17 metres of the surface, but its position in the current pushes nutrients upward.

This weekend the stars of the neighbourhood were a couple of Bryde's whales, including an oddly friendly chap now nicknamed "George" as in "curious George".

Michael Field ORCA POD: Patrolling the Devonport Navy base.

He approaches whale watching boats suggesting it is not always clear who is watching who.

It is not clear internationally whether Bryde's whales are endangered, but it is an unfortunate accident that Anchorite Rock is along the way for container ships travelling between Auckland and the rest of the country.

Most of the whales being killed in the Hauraki are dying on the bulbous bow of container ships.

MICHAEL FIELD FAMILY OUTING: Dolphin mother and child.

Auckland harbour control receives reports through the day of whale sightings and issue warnings to shipping to slow down.

Also enjoying the Hauraki are dozens of little blue penguins and patrolling around – looking for a bit of poultry – are various sharks, including hammer heads, makos and great whites.

Toward the Coromandel Coast large schools of porpoises went about their business.

On the second of Auckland's three harbours, the Manukau, it is even warmer, producing yet another explosion of life.

It could be a bit awkward for the sting rays including a 90 centimetres black ray that moved into the Onehunga Lagoon in early December.

It is made it onto Facebook and last week the Auckland Council have put up a sign at the lagoon, warning people to keep their distance to avoid injury.

"It is a wild creature so please treat it with respect and caution," the notice says.

Yesterday the Mackintosh family, Kirsty, Jamie and Hannah, were walking the lagoon edge hoping to see the ray.

"It was our lucky day. We saw him and his mate," they report.

"Yup there are two stingrays in the Onehunga Lagoon. Was so very excited for us locals, to have them right here in our backyard.

"We now call it "Stingray bay". Our daughter has named the sting rays Shaun and Rainbow."

Niwa principal scientist for fisheries Malcolm Francis said stingrays became more active in summer as they searched warm, shallow waters for food, and it was probably feasting on small shellfish and molluscs.

"It should be fine," he said.

"It will be aware of the water flow and if it needs to get out it will be able to sense the current and do so."

The creature in question was probably a long-tailed stingray, Francis said.

"That tail looks substantially longer than the length of the disc."