Archive · 9 Jan 2026
Six whales die after restranding in New Zealand
Some whales in New Zealand got stuck on the beach.
Volunteers helped most of them go back to the water.
But later, 15 whales got stuck again, and sadly, 6 of them died.
This happened at a place called Farewell Spit, which is a long sandbar.
A group called Project Jonah is trying to help the whales.
15 whales restranded at Farewell Spit, New Zealand, after an initial mass stranding of 55 whales.
Six of the restranded whales have died.
Volunteers are preparing to attempt to refloat the remaining whales.
The initial stranding occurred on January 8, 2024, with most whales being refloated.
Farewell Spit is a 26-kilometer (16-mile) sandbar at the northern tip of New Zealand's South Island.
- Who
- Project Jonah (conservation group)
- What
- Six whales died after restranding at Farewell Spit
- When
- January 9, 2024
- Where
- Farewell Spit, South Island, New Zealand
- Why
- The whales restranded after an initial mass stranding
- Location
- Farewell Spit, South Island, New Zealand
- Initial Stranding
- 55 whales
- Restranded Whales
- 15 whales
- Whales that died
- 6 whales
- Organization Involved
- Project Jonah
- Date of Restranding
- January 9, 2024
- Length of Farewell Spit
- 26 kilometers (16 miles)