Photo: Department of Conservation / Amanda Harvey
Department of Conservation (DOC) staff are assessing the welfare of two pods of pilot whales stranded near Farewell Spit at the top of the South Island.
A pod of around 30 whales stranded near Pakawau Inlet in Golden Bay late on Saturday evening. Some were refloated, but they have since stranded again at Tomatea Point.
Andrew Lamason, DOC acting operations manager in Golden Bay, said another group of 11 whales stranded near Taupata Point early on Monday morning, and most of them have been refloated.
The initial pod was waiting for sufficient water to be refloated, as was a single whale at Patons Rock.
Lamason said euthanising the whales remained an option.
The initial group were now "very high on the beach", Lamason said.
"The whales are near Pakawau Inlet and they are on rocks now, some are up amongst the driftwood."
"The tides are reducing in height which makes re-floating even more challenging."
"The winds are still blowing directly onshore but not as strong as yesterday."
Lamason said there had also been further deaths overnight.
Three of the 33 whales had died on Sunday, including one euthanised by the Department of Conservation.
The Department of Conservation said it was doing a health and welfare assessment on the whales with support from Massey University experts.
"We will then make decisions about what the next best course of action is," Lamason said.
Photo: Department of Conservation / Amanda Harvey
Project Jonah had called for help in a post on Facebook to keep the whales "cool and calm" until high tide.
"We welcome anyone to the beach - please park at the Pakawau Community Hall. Conditions are tricky with a very rocky beach and high winds so please wear appropriate clothing and good footwear is essential."
Its medics had been mobilised and were working alongside the Department of Conservation and tangata whenua ke Mohua, it added.
A refloat attempt would happen from midday on Monday.
