Around 1500 people flocked to Auckland Museum today to see a public dissection of a great white shark - believed to be a first in New Zealand.

Despite the blazing heat, people showed up in their droves to get a glimpse of the giant predator.

Armed with cameras and mobile phones, young and old jostled excitedly in the hot sunshine to get a chance to touch and take photographs the shark.

Nobody seemed too squeamish despite the amount of blood, and most people were happy to pose with the great white.

The museum and the Department of Conservation (DOC) performed the necropsy, or fish autopsy, on the shark, with running commentary throughout.

The free event was held to raise awareness of the threats facing this vulnerable and unfairly maligned species, museum curator Tom Trnski (crrct) said.

Marnie Jackson, originally from England, brought four children aged nine, 13, 15 and 18 with her to see the shark.

"It's not something you see every day so we just wanted to make the most of the opportunity to see a great white shark up close," she said.