4 Feb 2011

Pilot whales stranded at Golden Bay

11:01 pm on 4 February 2011

The Department of Conservation will resume efforts on Saturday to refloat a pod of stranded whales at Golden Bay at the top of the South Island.

About 80 pilot whales became stranded at Puponga Point when the tide went out about 2pm on Friday.

Ten have died, while four have managed to swim out to sea.

Department of Conservation staff and volunteers tried to refloat the mammals and keep them cool but abandoned efforts on Friday night as it was too unsafe.

More than 200 people wearing wetsuits will be needed to try and help the whales back to sea at high tide about midday on Saturday.

DoC says more whales could die overnight, but nothing can be done to help them.

In January, 24 pilot whales died after becoming stranded at Parengarenga Harbour in the Far North.