Farewell Spit
Peter Butler: Building a predator-free sanctuary
Self-described hippie Peter Butler helped set up HealthPost, a thriving Golden-Bay-based online natural product business. He's now on a mission to protect local wildlife. The focus of his efforts is a… Audio, Gallery
Whale-saving invention ready for summer
A woman who witnessed a whale stranding on Farewell Spit has developed an invention that aims to help save the lives of struggling whales.
Whale-saving invention ready for summer
The remote and wind-swept beaches inside Farewell Spit, at the north-west tip of the South Island, have long been a whale death-trap. In February this year, it was the scene of mainland New Zealand's… Audio
Eight whales restrand at Farewell Spit
Eight more whales have restranded at Farewell Spit this afternoon and the Department of Conservation is worried more could come in. RNZ reporter Michael Cropp joins Checkpoint live from the scene. Video, Audio
The grisly task of cleaning up hundreds of whale carcusses
Holes have had to be poked in hundreds of whale carcusses on Farewell Spit to prevent the bodies from exploding as they decompose. Tracy Neal reports. Audio
Whales in danger of restranding
Louisa Hawkes from Project Jonah joins Checkpoint to discuss the latest from Farewell Spit, where a pod of whales are in danger of restranding, again. Audio
Bittersweet victory after massive whale stranding
It seemed a near-hopeless task, but crowds rallied to the calls of desperate, dying whales. Tracy Neal reflects on what has become mainland New Zealand's biggest stranding.
Last 17 stranded pilot whales refloated as main pod heads toward sea
The Department of Conservation is trying to figure out what to do with the carcasses of hundreds of whales left on the South Island's Farewell Spit.
200 whales now stranded a whole new pod, says DoC
A whole new pod of about 240 whales is now stranded in Golden Bay, says the Department of Conservation.
DoC to investigate why so many whales have died
Department of Conservation's head of marine species and threats, Ian Angus, is co-ordinating a team taking samples of the whales to find out why so many of them have died. Video, Audio
Nearly 100 whales still alive after mass stranding
Rescuers have spent most of today trying to save as many whales as they can from a mass stranding of more than 400 whales at Farewell Spit. Video, Audio
Project Jonah stands by to refloat whales at high tide
Project Jonah is co-ordinating the response to the whale rescue operation at the top of the South Island. Its general manager Daren Grover talks to John Campbell. Audio
500 volunteers heed call to help whales
Five hundred volunteers headed to Farewell Spit to attempt to rescue 100 stranded whales. Cindy Mosey travelled from Nelson with her two children to help. She describes the scene. Video, Audio
Hotspots: Farewell Spit
Described as one of those must-do trips, a visit to Farewell Spit in Golden Bay at the top of the South Island. Audio