Rare sight on remote Mahia beach

The whale dwarfs locals (from left) Lincoln Ormond, Reece Kereru-Symes, Brendon Kinita and Wade Rarere. Photo / APN

One of the ocean's great hunters has found its way ashore on a remote spot of coast on the Mahia Peninsula in Hawkes Bay.

A dead 14.8m male sperm whale washed up on Dinahs Beach on Sunday and has been fascinating locals since. It was the first sperm whale to wash up at Mahia for eight years and the first recorded on Dinahs Beach.

The lower jaw and teeth of the giant whale were removed for carving by local iwi, and Department of Conservation ranger Helen Jonas said the rest of the mammal would be left to rot.

"It's what normally happens when the carcass is out of the way, like it is," she said.

The beach's remote location meant there would be little human impact from the rotting whale's strong odour, Mrs Jonas said.

Hawkes Bay DoC ranger John Adams said the whale was probably dead before it reached the shore.

"It's not that unusual when there's a solo beaching - the animal is injured or old and dying," Mr Adams said.

On average a sperm whale is found on New Zealand beaches every two years.

Pupils from Te Mahia School weretaken by staff to view the whale aspart of their studies on marine life.

"It stinks really bad," 12-year-old Brendon Kinita said.

Teacher Trevor Bills said it had been a "great" learning experience.

"We've been studying the ocean, so it was really interesting for the kids to see it."

Neil Cracken, who lives next to the beach where the whale appeared, said he would be interested in carving some of its bone.

"It's a gift, you know, from Tangaroa - it's not often you see one of these," he said. "This is a once, maybe twice, in a lifetime experience."

Mr Cracken also said he had not been affected by the smell because he lived some distance from the carcass.

- APN