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Story: Whales

Mass stranding

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Mass stranding

One of three species which strand themselves in groups is the sperm whale. Nearly 60 sperm whales stranded here at Tatapouri Point, Gisborne, in March 1970.

Using this item

Department of Conservation

Reference: Alan N. Baker, Whales and dolphins of New Zealand and Australia. Wellington: Biological Society, Victoria University of Wellington, 1972

by Faulkner

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How to cite this page

Gerard Hutching, Whales – Strandings: whales and dolphins, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/7186/mass-stranding (accessed 24 June 2026).

Story by Gerard Hutching, published 2 March 2009.