43 pilot whales die on New Zealand's rocky coast: rescuers, Māori and children from a nearby village kept them wet all day, but not one could be saved

What happened

On the morning of 5 November 2026, just after 8am, New Zealand's Department of Conservation (DOC) was alerted to a mass stranding of whales on the Ngawi coast. This is a remote, rocky stretch of coastline at the south-eastern tip of the North Island, in the Wairarapa region. Dozens of pilot whales lay on the shore, spread over several kilometres.

The next day the department confirmed that 43 whales had died. According to Ariana Hawira, acting operations manager for DOC Wairarapa, none of the whales is believed to have survived.

How rescuers tried to save the whales

DOC staff, members of local Māori iwi and volunteers spent the whole day trying to help the pilot whales. The rescue charity Project Jonah wrote that many whales were already dead when they were found, and those found alive died during the day. According to Project Jonah's Louisa Hawkes, two of the four whales found alive were refloated, but they did not survive either.

Why it was so difficult

The rescue was hampered by the remote location, powerful surf and sharp rocks in the intertidal zone. Pilot whales are big animals; they were thrown against the rocks and badly injured. After the first whale was refloated, rescuers had to leave the water for a time because there was too much blood. Witnesses described it as a moment of complete helplessness.

Schoolchildren on the beach

The rural Pirinoa School let its pupils out of class to help the rescuers. Children aged 8 to 12 gathered buckets and containers to pour water over the whales and stop their skin drying out. Principal Toby Funnell said it seemed crazy to keep the children in school on such a day. On the beach the children watched the rescue teams, who explained what was happening.

How many people helped

According to Funnell, about 60 people gathered on the coast, ready to help however they could. He admitted it was hard to see the injured animals stuck on the rocks. Many wanted to jump in and do something, but pilot whales more than four metres long are too heavy and powerful for untrained people to handle.

What will happen to the whales' bodies

DOC is working with iwi on the burial of the whales. For Māori, whales are taonga, a sacred treasure, so the dead animals are buried in keeping with tradition. Before that, scientists may take tissue samples to try to understand why the animals stranded.

What pilot whales are

Pilot whales belong to the dolphin family, although they are usually called whales. Adults grow to about 7 metres and weigh up to 3 tonnes. They live in large, tightly knit groups that stay together for life. Pilot whales feed mainly on squid and fish and dive to great depths.

Why pilot whales strand

According to Hawira, pilot whales are among the species that strand most often, but the reasons are not fully understood. Scientists put forward several explanations: strong social bonds, with the whole group following a sick or disoriented leader; gently sloping sandy shallows that confuse echolocation; storms; being chased by predators; and noise from ships.

Why whole groups die

When one whale in a pod runs aground, the others often do not swim away but stay close and strand themselves. Even if rescuers refloat some of the animals, they may strand again as they try to get back to the rest of the pod. That is why rescuers try to release whales at the same time and make sure they head out to open sea.

How often this happens in New Zealand

Mass strandings are fairly common in New Zealand. More than 5,000 strandings of whales and dolphins have been recorded in the country since 1840. Farewell Spit on the South Island is particularly well known: around 600 pilot whales stranded there in 2017. Strandings on the Ngawi coast, however, are rare, and according to DOC there is no sign that strandings are becoming more frequent or more severe.

What scientists will try to find out

Louisa Hawkes said experts would spend the coming weeks trying to understand why the whales came ashore. On the beach itself it is very hard to work out the cause. Scientists will look at the age and sex of the dead animals, their body condition, signs of disease and injury, and the weather and sea conditions on those days.

How stranded whales are helped

The most important thing for a stranded whale is to stay wet and cool. Rescuers cover the animals with wet sheets, pour water over them while keeping it away from the blowhole, keep them upright on their bellies and dig holes for their pectoral fins. A whale should only be returned to the water under expert guidance, usually using special pontoons at high tide.

Why you must not pull it by the tail

A whale lying on the beach is under enormous strain: without the support of the water, its own weight presses on its internal organs. Pulling it by the tail or flippers can damage its spine and joints. So untrained people should not try to move a whale themselves but help rescuers as directed.

Why euthanasia is sometimes necessary

If a whale is badly injured, exhausted or has stranded several times, rescuers and vets may decide on euthanasia to spare it suffering. It is a hard decision but sometimes the only humane one. It is made only by experts after examining the animal.

Strandings in Europe and the UK

Pilot whales and other cetaceans also strand in Europe: in the UK, Ireland, France, Spain, the Netherlands and Scandinavia. In the UK, strandings of whales, dolphins and porpoises are investigated by the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP), whose scientists examine dead animals and look for causes such as disease, entanglement in fishing gear and pollution. Live strandings are handled by British Divers Marine Life Rescue.

Why ocean noise is dangerous

Scientists have long studied how underwater noise from military sonar, seismic surveys and shipping affects whales. Some mass strandings of beaked whales have been linked to sonar exercises. For pilot whales a link with noise has not always been proven, but scientists believe noise can throw whales off course and cause stress.

How climate change affects whales

Ocean warming is changing the distribution of the squid and fish that pilot whales eat. To find food, whales may move closer to shore and into unfamiliar areas. Scientists are still cautious about linking climate to strandings, but think such changes could affect the behaviour of marine mammals in future.

What to do if you find a whale or dolphin

1. Call straight away your local marine animal rescue or the coastguard; in the UK, British Divers Marine Life Rescue.
2. Do not pull the animal by its tail or flippers or try to push it back into the water.
3. Keep its skin wet, but do not pour water into the blowhole.
4. Keep dogs away and people at a distance so as not to frighten the animal.
5. Do not touch dead animals with bare hands: they can carry infections.

Are whales dangerous to people

A stranded whale can injure a person with a blow from its tail or flipper, especially if it is thrashing. Marine mammals can also carry bacteria and viruses that are dangerous to people and dogs. So wear gloves, do not touch your face and wash your hands after helping an animal.

Dogs and stranded animals

Dogs are often the first to find stranded dolphins, seals or seabirds on a beach. Keep your dog on a lead and do not let it sniff or chew carcasses: they can carry bacteria, parasites and viruses, including bird flu, which has been found in marine mammals. Wash your dog's muzzle and paws after the walk.

Why it matters

Every mass stranding is a tragedy and also a source of knowledge. Examining dead whales helps us learn more about disease, pollution and changes in the ocean. That is why rescuers and scientists ask people to report every stranded animal, even dead ones.

What this means for Europe

Pilot whales and other whales also strand on European and British coasts, especially in autumn and winter. If you see a whale, dolphin or seal on a beach, do not try to rescue it yourself; call for help immediately. Keep dogs on a lead and do not touch carcasses: bird flu has been found in marine mammals in Europe, including the UK.

When to see a vet

Take your dog to the vet if it has sniffed, chewed or eaten the carcass of a marine animal or bird on the beach, especially if it then develops vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy, a cough or loss of coordination. If you have touched a dead animal yourself and feel unwell, see a doctor.