Three whales die after stranding

Gray's Beaked whales are rarely seen. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Three rare whales have died after becoming stranded on a Far North beach.

They were among a small pod of five Gray's Beaked whales that beached themselves on Wednesday afternoon at Taupo Bay, 20km east of Mangonui, on the east coast.

Department of Conservation staff, Taupo Bay community volunteers and a local group, Far North Whale Rescue, managed to help two whales out to sea but two adult females and a juvenile died at the southern end of the popular surfing and holiday beach.

Mita Harris, DoC Bay of Islands programme manager for biodiversity, said both dead female whales were about 5m to 6m long and each weighed an estimated 1.5 tonnes.

A search was mounted yesterday around rocks for the dead juvenile whale, which washed away in strong tidal currents.

Mr Harris said the whales would be buried within 24 hours near a stream outlet at the beach's southern end where another whale had been buried some time ago.

Their burial, after being shifted by a digger, would follow an examination of the mammals by Ngatiwai iwi research staff and a student from Auckland University.

Mr Harris said he had also spoken to tangata whenua about protocols to be followed in disposing of the whales' bodies.

He said the Gray's Beaked whales were quite rare in northern waters and were not often seen.

He had no idea why the whales had come ashore.

"It's one of those universal mysteries."

Between 20 and 30 people had been involved in Wednesday's rescue attempt on the beach.

"It was quite dangerous for them," Mr Harris said.

"The sea was quite choppy and rough and there are rips and holes all along the beach."