WELLINGTON - A NEW Zealand man surfed with three killer-whales at the weekend, saying the waves were too good to be put off by the predators, a local newspaper reported.

Craig Hunter, who has been surfing off New Zealand's North Island for almost 50 years, told the Dominion Post he spotted an adult orca and two young calves lurking just beyond the breakers as was surfing on Saturday.

'There was no way I was going in because the waves were too good,' MR Hunter said, adding that this was not the first time he had surfed with an orca.

He said he was too old to be bothered by the possibility of being attacked.

'My outlook is they are big enough and quick enough. If they thought I was a seal, I'd be long gone.'

There have been no known cases of orca attacking humans, the Dominion Post said. -- REUTERS