Wellington's East by West ferry will run restricted services today after one of its ferries was hit by a large wave yesterday morning.

Commuters on a ferry have been rescued in Wellington Harbour this morning, after a large wave was believed to have knocked one person overboard in Worser Bay.

A decision to kill 48 pilot whales found stranded on Stewart Island had been difficult but there was no alternative, DoC says.

One of the world's biggest and most luxurious private sailing yachts, the Athena, was "shrink wrapped" in Westhaven marina yesterday.