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Story: Whales

Whale strandings in New Zealand, 1978–2004

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Whale strandings in New Zealand, 1978–2004

Almost 9,000 whales and dolphins were stranded in New Zealand between 1978 and 2004. Only about a quarter of them were saved. Species included Grey’s beaked whale, the Pygmy sperm whale, the sperm whale, the long-finned pilot whale, and the false killer whale (which is actually a dolphin).

Using this item

Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Source: New Zealand marine mammal stranding database, Dept of Conservation/Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

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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/diagram/7110/whale-strandings-in-new-zealand-1978-2004 (accessed 24 June 2026).

Story by Gerard Hutching, published 2 March 2009.