A Dunedin resident was blocked from doing her washing after an unexpected visitor made herself comfortable in her backyard.
The visitor was a sea lion, called Hiriwa. Ocean View resident Catherine Manson found her in her backyard at 6.45am yesterday as she went to wash her clothing.
The 13-year-old creature sprawled herself across the pebbles in the yard and made herself at home.
Despite not being able to get clean clothing, Mrs Manson did not mind the presence of the sea lion and was very excited by it.
"I was heading out to put some washing on and I walked down the corridor and went, ‘Oh s...’
"I didn’t want to disturb it so I just left the washing for the day."
This time last year she was visited by another sea lion and also could not do her washing.
"I think it's lovely."
She sat and talked to the sea lion, telling Hiriwa she was not going to hurt her and keeping her company.
"My husband wasn't happy but I don't mind.
"It's only because it's quite smelly and it poops everywhere, but she's doing no harm."
"Last year my grandson, who's 12, was [asking] why did it go away, and I want to see it.
"So I rang this morning and said, ‘it's there if you want to come out’."
Department of Conservation coastal Otago biodiversity ranger Jim Fyfe said Hiriwa was "heavily pregnant" and looking for a quiet place to hide.
"She's probably got quite a big pup this year and having quite a big pup is hard work."
Hiriwa is the mother to 10 pups and had bred at Smaills Beach and the Chisholm Links golf course.
There was an increased number of females on Dunedin coasts at this time of the year.
"We're working quite closely with the DCC road team to try and get signage up where we know females are sort of using the area on a regular basis."
People could expect regular sightings of sea lions up until May, Mr Fyfe said.
"Give them plenty of space.
"Know that they're just there to rest and once they've had a good sleep, they'll find their own way back out to sea."
