New Zealand: Dead whales found as rescuers battle mass stranding

Loading the video No Comment Video. New Zealand: Dead whales found as rescuers battle mass stranding Copy/paste the link below: Copy/paste the article video embed link below: Updated: 5 November 2026 - 8:20 GMT+1 Volunteers in New Zealand are working to save pilot whales stranded along the Wairarapa coast, near Cape Palliser. At least 14 have been helped back into the water, but many others have died along the remote coastline. About 50 pilot whales were found stranded among rocks on the rugged Ngawi coastline near Cape Palliser, at the southern tip of New Zealand's North Island, after coming ashore overnight. By Thursday afternoon the Department of Conservation had confirmed two pods, with roughly 20 animals on the beach in the first, four still alive and two refloated on the high tide. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Rescuers and marine medics from Project Jonah worked alongside DOC staff, local iwi and Ngawi volunteers to keep the surviving whales wet and cool. Most of the pod died despite those efforts, and by Thursday evening the last four survivors, including the two that had been refloated, were dead. Residents counted close to 50 whales, DOC initially confirmed about 20, and rescuers warned that some carcasses had already been swept out to sea, complicating the search along several kilometres of rocky coast. Pilot whales are highly social and vulnerable to mass strandings, which can trap entire pods in shallow coastal water. DOC said the area had not recorded a mass stranding since the 1990s. The cause of this one has not been established. New Zealand Whale Rescue wildlife conservation Top stories Now playing Next New Zealand: Dead whales found as rescuers battle mass stranding Now playing Next Spain: Madrid hosts 30th Ibero-American Summit with 22-nation bloc Now playing Next Brazil: Santa Claus School celebrates graduation at Christ the Redeemer Now playing Next Latest news bulletin | November 5th, 2026 – Morning Now playing Next Trump loses Congress. Will he now be even more unpredictable? Now playing Next Communist-era informer files released in Hungary Now playing Next MEPs debate EU enlargement at Euronews Summit Now playing Next US midterms: What Trump's defeat means for Europe and global markets Now playing Next 2026 US midterm elections: Real-time results in maps and charts Now playing Next US midterm elections: Democrats take US Congress in rejection of Trump Now playing Next Nine European cities ranked among the world's safest for travellers Now playing Next Democrats win control of US Congress in midterm rebuke of Trump Now playing Next Arab airlines set to record a collective net loss of €3.82 billion in 2026, AACO report reveals Now playing Next As tiger mosquitoes spread, Europe races to stop tropical diseases Now playing Next WHO backs trials for two new vaccines against Ebola outbreak Now playing Next Grand Voyager in Copenhagen: cycling, culture and Nordic cuisine ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT No Comment UK: Police arrest Palestine Action supporters outside Supreme Court No Comment Ukraine: Police footage captures Russian strike on Komyshuvakha shelter No Comment Portugal: Housing protesters return to Lisbon square after court ruling No Comment Ukraine: 33 dead, over 50 missing after Russian bombing in Zaporizhzhia EU News ‘Everything is on the table’: EU to discuss new measures against Georgia in January, Kallas says Europe News MEPs deal another blow to Green Deal with softer car emissions targets World News 'A feeling of redemption': Young voters in Maine hail Democratic victory Business Key Central Asian highway expands on trade route from China towards Europe Economy Eurozone inflation hits 4%: Which countries saw prices jump the most? Europe News More than 50 trapped under rubble after Russian strike on school-turned-aid centre, Zelenskyy says EU News Europe’s military readiness plans at risk despite record defence spending Iran Iranian MP tells Euronews Tehran's missiles will strike Europe if US uses its bases there ADVERTISEMENT Tech News Apple begins AI trial in China, powered by Alibaba No Comment US midterm elections: Cheers erupt as Talarico's Texas victory is projected Europe Today 'Largest House majority' in decades, says election expert Boyd Wagner on US midterm elections Europe Today Judicial crisis is 'weakening Poland' in a 'very unfortunate' time, says former EU Commissioner Jourová World News ‘We will take back the House in 2028’: US House Speaker Johnson promises Republican comeback World News Abdul El-Sayed makes history as first Muslim elected to US Senate World News ‘Democrats did a good job’: Trump congratulates Democrats on midterm wins Israel Israel's election commission says no fraud found in last week's vote ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT