DOC staff have killed 10 pilot whales which survived the stranding of a pod of 24 in Parengarenga harbour in the Far North.

"It was cool. It turned on its side and just sat there looking at us just under the water."

Four whales stranded at Port Waikato yesterday are to be buried in sand dunes just metres from where they lay.

Anti-whaling activists are promising more attacks after throwing smoke grenades and "flash bangs" at Japanese whalers in the Southern Ocean today.

Anti-whaling activists in the Southern Ocean say they have located the Japanese whaling fleet and have already clashed with the whalers.

New Zealand won't join in Australian court action over Japanese whaling but will have input into the case.

New Zealand is one of four nations calling for whaling protest ships in the Southern Ocean to safeguard life at sea.

Kayaker Mark Jones had unexpected company when a pod of whales surrounded him as he paddled to Great Barrier Island.

The possible connection between undersea noise and mass whale strandings in New Zealand deserves more attention, say marine scientists.

Pete Bethune has alleged Sea Shepherd ordered him to scuttle the Ady Gil after its collision with a Japanese whaling vessel.