{"id":226359,"date":"2026-01-10T07:08:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-10T07:08:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/226359\/"},"modified":"2026-01-10T07:08:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-10T07:08:12","slug":"pod-of-whales-restrands-at-farewell-spit-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/226359\/","title":{"rendered":"Pod of whales restrands at Farewell Spit"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Volunteers<\/p>\n

Volunteers working at Farewell Spit to try and keep the whales cool before they refloated on the high tide. Photo: Supplied \/ Project Jonah<\/p>\n

The pod of 15 beached whales which were refloated at Farewell Spit, has restranded overnight.<\/p>\n

More than 50 stranded in two locations in Golden Bay on Thursday and at least six have died.<\/p>\n

Conservation group Project Jonah says the whales have now beached for a third time and are starting to show signs of fatigue.<\/p>\n

It says people with wetsuits wanting to help are welcome, but it will limit the number of volunteers so as not to stress the whales.<\/p>\n

Last night a Project Jonah spokesperson said 15 of the stranded whales were swimming freely in the bay.<\/p>\n

The spokesperson said the remaining whales are still in the tidal zone, but are showing signs of encouraging behaviour.<\/p>\n

The Department of Conservation which is also assisting at the site of the latest stranding said Farewell Spit, where whales frequently strand at the top of the South Island, “is a naturally occurring “whale trap” that occurs along a migratory route for long-finned pilot whales in New Zealand”.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"\/ <\/p>\n

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