The whales were refloated by lifting them on sheets.
Patuharakeke remained on the beach through the night to make sure none of the rescued whales were re-stranded.
The DOC – which is responsible with managing stranded marine rescues – called the rescue effort “incredible, with everyone coming together for the whales”.
“It’s amazing to witness the genuine care and compassion people have shown toward these magnificent animals,” the department’s operations manager Joel Lauterbach said.
He also thanked all involved parties including Patuharakeke and Project Jonah, which delivers aid to stranded marine mammals, and the “hundreds of members of the public who have assisted so far”.
Whale and dolphin strandings are common in the country. The DOC responds to around 85 incidences a year on average, mostly consisting of single animals.
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