Stranded orca rescued off Papamoa Beach by members of the public

An orca has been saved off Papamoa Beach this morning. Photo / Ken Karen Wright Facebook

An orca that was found stranded on Papamoa Beach earlier today was freed by members of the public.

Papamoa resident Ken Wright was walking on the beach around 8am when he spotted the orca in the water.

Wright said that he felt great helping out an animal in need.

"Feeling great, helped rescue a stranded orca on Papamoa beach, got to touch it and help push it off," he said on Facebook.

Feeling great, helped rescue a stranded orca on Papamoa beach, got to touch it and help push it off, got soaked by the...

Posted by Ken Karen Wright on Friday, 29 December 2017

He explained that about 10 people helped free the orca from the beach and were rewarded by getting splashed.

"There was about ten of us just waded in, you have to hope that doing a good deed you are not going to get harmed, when it splashed its tail we all got soaked."

Meanwhile a whale has died after being beached at Mahia Beach in Hawke's Bay.

After a stormy night beachgoers found the 18m sperm whale early this morning.

Department of Conservation biodiversity ranger Jamie Quirk believed it to be a male due to its size and died around 8.30am.