Police piecing together the fatal last minutes of the sunken trawler Oyang 70 are hoping to finish interviews with the surviving crew this week.

Just nine of the 63 whales found stranded on a Northland beach on Friday have survived.

Eleven pilot whales have been successfully transported and refloated at Matai Bay after a mass stranding on Karikari Beach near Kaitaia yesterday.

The number of whales to have perished on Karikari beach has now reached 44 - but rescuers are trying to save 14 survivors.

Crew of the Amaltal Atlantis rubbed warmth into the bodies of the rescued fisherman and gave up their clothing to keep them warm.

Heavy security surrounded the arrival of survivors from the sinking of the Oyang 70, with three crew taken to hospital. Photo / Simon Baker