Biopsies taken from two whales found on Ninety Mile Beach have been sent to the University of Auckland for analysis.
A local policeman and a fisherman discovered the Cuvier's beaked whales last week and reported the find to the Department of Conservation (DOC).
Houhora police station Constable Simon Wihongi found one whale in Ngataki, 33km north of Waipapakauri Ramp. The other was discovered by Dan Lovell the following day, 70km north of Waipapakauri Ramp. The whales were identified by Hannah Hendriks, Marine Conservation Technician, who said both were likely to be males.
Biopsies were taken to find what may have caused the deaths. DOC officials said there was no seismic surveying at the time in the area that could have interfered with the whales. Both were buried according to iwi protocol.
Cuvier's beaked whales were one of the most commonly seen beaked whale species and grew up to 7m. Last year, a device known as D-Tag 9 measured a diving record for the species, with one diving to 2992m in 138 minutes.