6 Aug 2018

Whale rescue postponed until first light

6:38 pm on 6 August 2018

Rescuers have postponed efforts to re-float a stranded humpback whale in Northland and will re-assess tomorrow morning.

Earlier today, they managed to dig a trench in front of the stranded mammal and hoped it would be able to make its way to open water during high tide, but it didn't.

The whale and its calf became stranded on Ripiro Beach yesterday. The calf died this morning, but the adult female has been moving during the rescue attempt.

The next high tide is shortly before 6am tomorrow.

The humpbacks were first seen some 100m offshore about 7am on Sunday, and then found stranded about 8.30am, near Baylys Beach.

More than 100 volunteers have joined Department of Conservation and Project Jonah staff to try and help.

A whale stranded on Ripiro Beach in Northland.

Photo: RNZ / Dan Cook

DOC Kauri Coast operations manager Stephen Soole said it would be incredibly hard to refloat the whale because of how high it was on the beach.

"There is a lot of emotion at the moment because we don't like to see these animals in distress and we've got that at the forefront of our mind," Mr Soole said.

Dargaville Volunteer Fire Brigade deputy chief fire officer Michael Ross said it was the first time he had seen humpback whales stranded in that area.

"We've had small whales and we have seals wash up but nothing like this," he said.