26 Nov 2025

Pygmy sperm whale found dead on Auckland's North Shore

11:46 am on 26 November 2025
A whale washed up on Orewa Beach on Wednesday, 26 November 2025.

A whale washed up on Ōrewa Beach on Wednesday. Photo: Supplied / Maddi Newson

A pygmy sperm whale has been found dead on the shores of Ōrewa in Auckland's North Shore.

"I can confirm that DOC is responding to the body of a pygmy sperm whale at Ōrewa.

"At this point I have few other details," Department of Conservation spokesperson Nicole Steven said.

A whale washed up on Orewa Beach on Wednesday, 26 November 2025.

A whale washed up on Ōrewa Beach on Wednesday. Photo: Supplied / Maddi Newson

Steven said they don't know the cause of death yet.

"This info would require a necropsy," she said.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs