After three sperm whales were stranded at Ninety Mile Beach, a rāhui is now in place from Matapia Island to Te Paki Stream in Cape Reinga as a safety precaution.
Ngāti Kuri spokesperson Sheridan Waitai said on Thursday afternoon some beachgoers on Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe alerted the iwi and the Department of Conservation (DoC) about the strandings.
“We soon sent our environmental taiao group to investigate and carry out a tikanga process to make the area safe.
“We don’t want anyone to eat any food from that area in case they get sick, since after a whale dies and is flensed, it releases toxins in the water.”
Waitai said that aside from consumption, she implored beachgoers always to wear their shoes and sandals to avoid any risk of being infected if they receive a cut or scratch.