Despite the combined efforts of Maketu residents, Department of Conservation rangers and Project Jonah volunteers, a juvenile Cuviers beaked whale was stranded in Maketu Estuary yesterday.
The 4-metre-long mammal was noticed about 7.30am, jammed on rocks by the seawall, near the old diving board.
Department of Conservation partnerships ranger Fiona Clarkson said it possibly came in during a storm, between 3am and 4am yesterday.
Ms Clarkson helped with keeping the creature afloat until the high tide arrived about noon.
"When it initially floated free, it returned to the rocks and was pushed out into the stream but it restranded on a sandbar.
"It was pretty exhausted and had deep puncture wounds. If it had the strength, I'm sure it would have made it out [of the estuary] into the deeper water," Ms Clarkson said.
"It was possibly quite sick and dying when it came into the estuary in the early hours this morning," she said.
Maketu Wetlands secretary Tania Gaborit was one of the first on the scene about 8am and helped put towels on the creature to keep it moist.
"Local kaumatua [elders] came down and gave a karakia [prayer] and the whale was named Uru [after strong westerly winds]," Ms Gaborit said.
After the whale stranded upon the sandbar, Department of Conservation officials decided to end its life. It was shot and plans were made to bury it.