A whale that washed up south of Ahipara has been buried by local iwi to prevent the sea being polluted as the huge mammal rots.
Rueben Taipari Porter said the 15m-long Brydes baleen whale, or waha kupenga, had been buried at Tauroa Point to keep the Ahipara coastline safe from contamination and make sure kaimoana was safe to eat.
Whanau and hapu living in the baches around Tauroa Pt would be the kaitiaki (guardians) of the remains, which would stay buried for at least 12 months.
A wananga next spring would share taonga with those interested in learning cultural practices around various parts of the whale.
Photos, descriptions and bone parts had been sent to Auckland University for forensic testing to determine the whale's cause of death. Its ear drums and internal ear bones would be examined for damage, for example from seismic testing.