Story: Octopus and squid

Octopus at Pōrangahau

Octopus at Pōrangahau

Most people don't get the opportunity to see octopus in the wild. However, Amanda Smart and her family were lucky enough to have a close encounter with one, and have this stunning photo to show for it.

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Contributed by Amanda Smart

My family encountered a very inquisitive and extremely photogenic octopus while on holiday at Pōrangahau Beach, Hawke's Bay. The octopus reached out to us with its tentacles. We spent about five minutes with it before it swam away. It was around a metre long, at least, and was beautiful to watch.

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How to cite this page:

Maggy Wassilieff and Steve O’Shea, 'Octopus and squid - Head-footed animals', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/community-contribution/29858/octopus-at-porangahau (accessed 19 April 2024)

Story by Maggy Wassilieff and Steve O’Shea, published 12 Jun 2006