People ran to Ruakākā beach on Sunday to help refloat a pod of stranded pilot whales.
Photo: Supplied / DOC / Nikki Hartley

Whales refloated on a Northland beach appear to have remained at sea, although residents are urged to remain vigilant.

Hundreds of people, including members of the Department of Conservation, the local Patuharakeke hapū and whale rescue organization Project Jonah, refloated a pod of pilot whales stranded on Ruakākā Beach in Bream Bay.

Four of the whales died in the stranding.

Patuharakeke hapū stayed up all night and the first reports were positive, said Ari Carrington of the hapū.

“We have three groups scanning the coastline and the reports are clear, which is nasty,” he said.

Pilot whales stranded on Ruakākā beach on Sunday November 24, 2024.
Photo: Supplied / DOC

Patuharakeke Te Iwi Trust Board marine researcher Hollie Kereopa said she would be monitoring the coastline over the coming days.

“We managed to refloat around 20 pilot whales and we haven’t had any sightings of them stranding again along the coast of Bream Bay today, so that’s a really good sign for us until present,” she said. Morning report.

“It’s a very long stretch of coastline. Historically it’s a major hotspot for whale and dolphin strandings. It’s just a matter of keeping an eye on the whole coast and providing surveillance continue.”

The four pilot whales that died in the stranding remained just above the high tide mark on Ruakākā beach overnight Sunday.

“Some of our whanau were there, camping with them and spending the night with them.”

They will continue the tikanga-based process to deal with the dead whales on Monday.

Pilot whales stranded on Ruakākā beach on Sunday November 24, 2024.
Photo: Supplied / DOC

DOC Whangarei operations manager Joel Lauterbach said the response to the stranding had been “incredible” and spoke of the community’s deep connection to the marine environment.

“It’s amazing to see the genuine care and compassion people have shown these magnificent animals.”

He said the DOC was grateful to Patuharakeke who led the response on the ground and to the support of Project Jonah and “hundreds of members of the public”.

On Sunday, around 4:30 p.m., Project Jonah received calls that whales were in trouble at Ruakākā Beach, executive director Daren Grover said this weekend.

About 200 people ran to the beach to help, and the majority of the whales were refloated and monitored by 8 p.m., Project Jonah said on Facebook.

The DOC said it would remain with hapū members on the beach on Monday and asked the public to remain vigilant for whale sightings and to report any potential strandings immediately by calling 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).