A deceased whale has washed ashore between Mahuta Gap and Glinks Gully in Kaipara, Northland.

Police are warning locals to stay away from the whale, as it poses a “significant health risk”.

“We have been in contact with the Department of Conservation and we have been told the whale unfortunately poses a significant health risk to the public,” a police spokesperson said.

“We ask the public to please stay away from the whale and avoid touching it, due to safety concerns.”

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Police have consulted with the local iwi in the area, and said it has been agreed that the whale will be disposed of on Saturday.

It is not the first time a whale has been stranded or died in this area, after a “fairly large” Bryde’s whale died after becoming stranded off Glinks Gully beach in Northland, back in 2020.

In 2016, two small whales were stranded at Northland’s Ripiro Beach and Mahuta Gap, and were successfully released back into the sea.

In this incident, DOC personnel were able to place the whales on two trucks and take them 40km south to Pouto Point on the Kaipara Harbour.

With the help of inflatable boats, rangers returned the whales to the water and refloated them.