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

Effort being made to cut free the Australian humpback from debris and buoys.

We have a family pass valued at $390 for two adults and two children to venture out to one of the most diverse marine parks in the world - Auckland's own Hauraki Gulf.

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.

John Key has called anti-whaling protester Pete Bethune "downright ungrateful" after he slammed the Government.

Pete Bethune says he fully supports Sea Shepherd, despite the organisation "booting him out" during his trial in Japan.

Good on Pete Bethune, writes Matt McCarten.