Whales barely escape stranding on Auckland shore

A small pod of whales came close to shore at Auckland today, but escaped being stranded, the Coastgaurd said.

A witness on land had reported that about six Orca whales, three of them calves, appeared to be stranded in the Tamaki estuary, near the end of West Tamaki Rd.

Police, Coastguard, Department of Conservation and Project Jonah staff were alerted.

However, a Coastguard spokeswoman said the whales hadn't needed rescuing.

The pod had come close to land, probably chasing stingray for food, before heading back out to deeper water.

DOC spokesman Bill Trusewich agreed that the whales were probably after rays and said what happened wasn't unusual.

"If the whales go on to the shallows, they can wriggle themselves off," he said.

"It's very normal behaviour and when they are around they're common in that area."

- NZPA