The activity budgets of territorial males, adult females, pups, and yearlings of the New Zealand fur sealArctocephalus forsteri(Lesson, 1828) on Taumaka, Open Bay Islands, Westland, New Zealand (43° 52 S, 168° 53′ E) from 18 November 1974 to 30 January 1975 are described. Territorial males spent an average of 74.4% of their time lying down; 13.5% in a state of alertness; 4.8% on intrasexual and intersexual activities combined; and 7.3% on miscellaneous activities, including grooming, walking, and swimming. Equivalent figures for adult females, pups, and yearlings were: lying down (62.8%, 70.1%, and 66.6% respectively); alertness (4.9%, 2.8%, 6.8%); intrasexual and intersexual activities (1.1%, females only); miscellaneous (21%; 16%; 26.5%); female‐pup interactions (11%; 11.1%).