A pod of dolphins in danger of becoming stranded on Doubtless Bay's Tokerau Beach were ushered back out to sea by local residents.
About 20 common dolphins were found floundering in shallows at the northern end of the beach on Wednesday afternoon.
While the animals did not appear distressed, the tide was going out, putting them at risk of stranding.
Tokerau Beach resident Glenys Urlich said the dolphins seemed to be "milling around in the shallows" and looked reluctant to return to deeper water.
A large group of locals kept them wet and upright - dolphins can drown from water entering their blowholes if they tip on to their sides - and tried to herd them out to sea.