Date:  02 December 2024

There are 37 long-finned pilot whales stranded at one location. Two whales have died and 35 remain alive.

DOC is working with Project Jonah and volunteers on site to keep the whales wet and as comfortable as possible until a refloating can be attempted.

“The plan is to try to refloat the whales either on the incoming tide tonight before it gets dark or at high tide tomorrow at about midday,” says DOC Operations Manager Ross Trotter.

“The team are assessing to see if a refloat attempt is possible this evening before it gets dark. However high tide isn’t until 11.30 pm so this may not be possible. Once it’s dark, the team will stand down, as it’s unsafe to continue to work.

“A team will return to the site at dawn.

“Currently, we have enough support onsite, and no extra volunteers are needed at this stage. We appreciate the support of the volunteers who are assisting.”

Update: 3 December 2024

At first-light of the morning Tuesday 3 December, 24 of the 37 long-finned pilot whales which stranded yesterday remain alive at Farewell Spit.

DOC staff and Project Jonah volunteers are preparing for a refloat on the high-tide at noon.

Iwi will be on site from around 10 am.

Tākaka Operations Manager Ross Trotter says sadly a further six whales died overnight and another one was euthanised at first light this morning.

“However, the remaining whales are in relatively good condition and our teams are optimistic of a good result.”

Update: 4 December 2024

Attributable to Ross Trotter, Operations Manager Tākaka

23 whales have re-stranded about 1km north from where they were yesterday, one is unaccounted for.

There are 19 whales alive and unfortunately, four are dead.

We will keep them comfortable and attempt to refloat them at hightide at 12:15pm today.

Update: Noon 4 December 2024

Attributable to Ross Trotter, Operations Manager Tākaka

All the surviving long-finned pilot whales from Monday’s Farewell Spit stranding are now refloated on the incoming tide and headed in the right direction.

Conditions on the spit are overcast with light rain and visibility is low but it is safe to operate a vessel.

Because of that we have a boat deployed to follow them as they are now in deeper water and, with the tide still coming in, they are tracking nicely.

If they strand again, they should at least be in a better location than yesterday.

Update: 4 pm 4 December 2024

Attributable to Ross Trotter Operations Manager Tākaka

The 19 surviving whales have been swimming since around 11.30 am this morning.

Initially they moved into deep water and swam south which is the way we want them to go.

While they are doing well and still moving, they are occasionally tracking closer to shore.

We are now deploying some people to new locations so we can either try and prevent a further stranding or be right on hand if they do strand again, but this is only a contingency while they continue to make steady progress.

Update: 7 am 5 December 2024

Attributable to Ross Trotter Operations Manager Tākaka

Teams have been checking Golden Bay since first light.

We have had no sightings and no reports of sightings received from the public.

We will keep searching for the bay for the next hour before we stand the response down.

Update: 10:30 am 5 December 2024

Attributable to Ross Trotter Operations Manager Tākaka

Seventeen of the 19 long-finned pilot whales which were swimming freely from late morning yesterday have now come into very shallow water near Collingwood.

The two others have been found deceased.

DOC staff and Project Jonah are now on site with the live whales and are attempting to keep them from fully stranding.

We have an incoming tide and the site is accessible for volunteers but, because they have continued to come in towards land and their condition is deteriorating due to the stress of their previous strandings, the next few hours will be critical for them.

Update: 4 pm 5 December 2024

Attributable to Ross Trotter Operations Manager Tākaka

The surviving pilot whales have split in two groups with three of the stronger ones having swum away.

The remaining 14 were accompanied by a DOC vessel until mid-tide.

At this stage, we are still hopeful for them but conscious their condition has been deteriorating and they won’t be in great condition if they re-strand.

While much of the focus has been on the living animals, members of Manawhenua Ki Mohua and my staff have been giving the deceased whales appropriate farewells in accordance with tikanga and our protocols.

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