Halaelurus dawsoni Springer, 1971 The New Zealand catshark (Bythaelurus dawsoni) is a species of shark belonging to the family Pentanchidae, the deepwater catsharks, in the order Carcharhiniformes.

[2] This species is endemic to in the deep waters around New Zealand.

[2] The New Zealand catshark is a small, little-known deep water bottom shark.

It is dark brown around the top with a few widely spaced pale spots, and white below.

[5] It is regarded as being at risk from bottom trawling.