Volunteers last night comforted stranded whales that had been moved from a Far North beach to a nearby stream.

Howling winds up to 100kmh are hampering efforts to rescue 24 surviving whales on a beach in the Far North.

A large pod of pilot whales stranded on a Far North beach will hopefully be refloated tomorrow.

Surviving pilot whales from a stranded pod may have to be refloated at a more sheltered bay.

Gales and heavy rain pounding the North Island have shattered weather records, and winds last night hampered rescue efforts after a mass whale stranding at the northern tip of NZ.

More than 40 of the 80 pilot whales stranded at Spirits Bay have died and the rest will have to be relocated by road because of rough weather conditions.

DOC staff are scrambling to get enough help to save up to 30 whales still stranded at Spirits Bay, north of Kaitaia. At least 43 have died.

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.

A huge sperm whale has been torched and butchered after washing up on a beach in the Wairarapa.

Good on Pete Bethune, writes Matt McCarten.

Anti-whaling activist Peter Bethune has arrived back in New Zealand, ending his five month-long nightmare.

A deal negotiated with the Japanese resulted in a suspended sentence for anti-whaling activist Pete Bethune, but means he won't be on the next Sea Shepherd protest.

Reports say Pete Bethune's prosecution in Tokyo has demanded a two-year prison term.