More whales have stranded themselves at the top of the South Island days after nine were put down due to being beached at the same spot.
The Department of Conservation (DOC) said 53 pilot whales had stranded themselves at the base of Farewell Spit in Golden Bay this morning.
Ofthese, 13 had died. Staff and volunteers were working to keep the remaining 40 alive in waist-deep water.
On Thursday, eight whales were euthanised after beaching themselves twice at Farewell Spit. A ninth whale, which had not been seen at the beach, also had to be put down after it became stranded.
DOC Takaka conservation services manager John Mason believed these whales had been from the same pod as the 53 which had stranded this morning.
