Green Turtle

Green turtles are the sea turtles most often recorded around New Zealand, especially as juveniles and sub-adults around the northern North Island. The oval shell is smooth and brown to olive, with one pair of large scales between the eyes. Unlike leatherbacks, green turtles have a hard shell covered by scutes rather than longitudinal leathery ridges.

Juveniles use northern North Island coastal waters and the Poor Knights Islands; Rangaunu Harbour is a year-round feeding area. They do not nest in New Zealand because beach sand is too cool. Adults feed mainly on seagrass, algae and mangroves, while younger turtles also take jellyfish, sponges, shellfish and fish material.

Green turtle is classed as a Non-resident Native in the NZ Threat Classification and is protected by the Wildlife Act 1953. New Zealand threats include sediment pollution, seagrass loss, vessel strikes, fishing bycatch and plastic ingestion. Rangaunu Harbour, Northland and the Poor Knights area hold the most regular records, but sightings remain uncommon. A turtle stranded on a beach is likely ill and should be reported to DOC rather than returned to the sea.