Whale burials likely to continue tomorrow

Rescuers help the stranded pilot whales at Karikari Beach yesterday. Photo / DoC

Efforts to bury 49 whales which died after becoming stranded on a Northland beach are likely to continue into tomorrow.

Department of Conservation (DOC) staff and representatives from the local Ngati Kahu iwi today blessed a site near Karikari Beach in the Far North, where 58 whales were found beached late on Friday morning.

Efforts were made last night to re-float the 13 whales which were still alive. Nine made it to the ocean, while four were euthanised after they either tried to re-strand themselves or were swimming around in a distressed state as there were concerns they may attract the other nine back to the shore.

In all 49 of the 58 whales died, DOC spokeswoman Sue Campbell said.

Ms Campbell said the hard task of burying the deceased whales began about 10.30am today after Ngati Kahu elders blessed the site.

"A site was chosen behind sand dunes, quite close to where they were found," she said.

About four DOC staff and five people from Ngati Kahu were assisting a digger with the burials, which Ms Campbell said were unlikely to finish today.

"We probably will have some to go tomorrow. Potentially we may have to look for a new site."

The whales were measured so they could be recorded in a national database but no autopsies would be held, she said.

Ms Campbell said it was difficult to tell when the whales became stranded, though it appeared that some of them may have been there for some time given the condition they were found in.

A team of more than 70 volunteers from DOC in Kaitaia, Project Jonah and Far North Whale Rescue were at the scene yesterday trying to save the whales. Volunteers from the local community and local iwi, Ngati Kahu, were also on hand to help.

Kim Mulcaster of Project Jonah said it was tough seeing so many die but they were happy with their efforts.

"We're glad nine made it back to the ocean. Had we not been there, none of them would have survived."

- NZPA