Māhanga Bay occupiers claiming to skin and eat seal prompts Department of Conservation investigation

The Department of Conservation (DoC) is investigating claims a group of protesters in Māhanga Bay in Wellington skinned and ate a seal.

A video has emerged on social media of a tour of the occupation site that showed graphic images of a "gutted" seal.

"Getting all the fat and meat off it and get it in salt and we'll dry it out," the self-proclaimed leader of the occupation Te Pou Raukawakawa explained in the video.

"We gutted it, sent the guts back up to Tangaroa [the god of the sea] and took the coat, yeah we'll use the carcass.

"The boys have pulled the net in and set the net, they can eat the heart."

Raukawakawa said in the video DoC approached the group the day before about a seal that was caught in a net. He said usually the department would take it away but they told DoC they would keep the seal here and they will "utilise it".

DoC operations manager for Kapiti-Wellington Angus Hulme-Muir said staff were informed of a seal that had been recovered in Māhanga Bay that appeared to have drowned due to being caught in a net.

Hulme-Muir said DoC staff met the group who reported it. The group was comforting the seal and was asked to inform DoC once it had died so it could be buried.

"This was not done, and DoC was later informed that the seal was skinned and partially eaten," Hulme-Muir said.

He said the DoC compliance team is investigating whether an offence has been committed and what appropriate course of action should be taken.

Under the Marine Mammals Protection Regulations 1992, it is an offence to harass, disturb, injure, or kill marine mammals, or to take parts of deceased marine mammals, such as teeth or meat.

Anyone charged with violating regulations faces a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment or a fine of up to $250,000.

The protesters have been occupying the land owned by NIWA on Massey Road since the end of the Parliament protest last month.

Raukawakawa said the occupation was about saving Shelly Bay from development, but Mau Whenua, a collective of Taranaki Whānui iwi members who were opposed to the land development, has denied links to the group.

A spokesperson said the protesters were not welcome to join them as the groups did not share the same kaupapa.