A 790 mm fork length (FL) (6.91 kg) kahawai netted in Waitangi Estuary, Hawke Bay, New Zealand, in August 1997 is positively identified asArripis trutta(Bloch & Schneider 1801) using meristic and morphometric characters. This fish is considerably larger than the accepted maximum length for the species from New Zealand, and was aged between 15+and 17 years. New ZealandA. truttaof this age are normally 460–610 mm FL. Captures of kahawai greater than 640 mm FL and 4.0 kg in weight from New Zealand are reviewed, and a 10.0 kgA. truttais tentatively identified from Northland. It is suggested that these fish may straggle to New Zealand from eastern Australia. Norfolk Island, Lord Howe Island, or Kermadec Islands.