Only in a snake-free country could the discovery of a serpent cause such a fuss.
New Zealand is one of the few countries in the world with no snakes.
So when a venomous sea snake washed up on a beach at Dargaville, north of Auckland, law and government authorities were quickly called into action.
Police were sent to stand guard over the snake, identified as a poisonous yellow-bellied sea snake, while biosecurity staff were sent from Auckland.
"We contacted both Ministry of Fisheries and Department of Conservation but apparently it's handled by the Biosecurity people," police Constable Nick Wilson told the Dargaville and Districts News.
Wilson said police were keeping people away from the snake just in case.
But he admitted it seemed "quite placid and not keen on going anywhere".