16 Jan 2013

DoC to decide how to dispose of whale

11:20 pm on 16 January 2013

The Department of Conservation will decide on Thursday how to dispose of a whale washed up on the Kapiti Coast.

The sperm whale, measuring almost 15 metres, is thought to have died of natural causes on Tuesday night and was found in front of the Kapiti Boating Club about 6.30am on Wednesday.

The options are transporting the carcass to another site to be buried, or cutting it into sections and burying it deep at Paraparaumu Beach.

DoC biodiversity ranger Brent Tandy says local iwi Te Atiawa ki Whakarongotai have begun removing culturally significant parts of the whale, including the jawbone, teeth and possibly the ear bone.

The whale has attracted hundreds of people.

The whale is likely to be removed from Paraparaumu Beach on Thursday.

The whale is likely to be removed from Paraparaumu Beach on Thursday. Photo: RNZ