The task to bury almost 50 pilot whales which stranded themselves on Karikari beach on Friday is likely to continue on Monday.
The Department of Conservation and a local Northland iwi have spent Sunday digging a mass grave for them in the sand dunes.
A DoC spokesperson, Sioux Campbell says it's been a huge logistical task.
She says the nine surviving whales have not been seen since they were re-floated on Saturday and DoC considers that to be good news.
