UPDATED 8:45am: A glimmer of hope for conservationists trying to save stranded whales has been quickly extinguished, with a pod re-beaching.
21 of the animals have died so far, after about 60 stranded in Ohiwa Harbour near Ohope last night.
Department of Conservation spokesperson Steve Brightwell says they managed to get a group of whales heading out to sea, but the pod soon splintered.
"One group went out to sea and this other group stayed in the harbour and a number of those ones have beached on a small island overnight and there's still 20 alive and in the harbour that we're working with now."
Mr Brightwell says staff and volunteers are battling wind and cold water, but that's not the main problem.
"The whales themselves, they're panicky, they're not necessarily all just lying there calmly and they're very big animals."
Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you
Get the iHeart App
Get more of the radio, music and podcasts you love with the FREE iHeart app. Scan the QR code to download now.
Download from the app stores
Stream unlimited music, thousands of radio stations and podcasts all in one app. iHeart is easy to use and all FREE
