Stranded pilot whales die

More than a dozen whales have died after a mass stranding at an isolated northern Coromandel bay.

The pod of pilot whales was reported off the coast of Colville Bay on Saturday morning.

Department of Conservation Coromandel district operations manager Nick Kelly said although the high tide on Saturday night had allowed the stranded whales to be refloated, members of the pod restranded yesterday morning.

He said about a dozen died after restranding on the rocks.

Another five dead whales were discovered nearby late on Saturday.

The group Project Jonah said efforts to save the surviving whales in the bay were going well, considering the resources, geography and weather.