Rescuers race to refloat pilot whales after Wairarapa stranding

About 50 pilot whales were found stranded among rocks on the Ngawi coastline near Cape Palliser in New Zealand's Wairarapa on Thursday morning. Project Jonah reported at least 20 stranded and four initially alive. Residents and rescue teams kept survivors wet and cool while preparing a possible high-tide refloat Thursday. Project Jonah manager Louisa Hawkes said the four did not survive, including two crews had got back into the water. Local Rob Bargh said: "It's horrible. The ones that are alive are on their last breaths." Fisherman Andrew Sim called it very sad, said it was most strange with no reason—just bad luck—and that it happened in the middle of the night. Locals said pilot whales had not stranded there in more than four decades. Resident counts of about 50 differed from Project Jonah's at least 20. Doc Wairarapa acting operations manager Ariana Hawira said staff worked with local iwi and Project Jonah. DOC and iwi planned to name the whales and give karakia Thursday evening.