KEY POINTS:
A pod of 37 pilot whales have died after being stranded on a beach near Marsden Point, in Northland.
Another 40 whales have been refloated by Northland volunteers and Department of Conservation (DOC) staff.
DOC spokesperson Bryce Lomis said boats were patrolling near the whales to encourage them to return to sea rather than the beach or further up Whangarei Harbour.
The whales had become stranded after swimming too close to the beach, he said.
DOC were notified of the stranded whales about 8am today but volunteers from Marsden Point had already been working for sometime to rescue them, he said.
Volunteers and about 15 DOC staff were standing by in case the whales return to shore or begin to swim up the harbour, he said.
No further help is needed at the moment, Mr Lomis said.
"At the moment it's important that we continue to assess the situation and will ask for more assistance if and when it's required."
It had not been decided what to do with the dead whales, he said.
- NZPA
