A 14-metre whale has died after getting stranded in Golden Bay yesterday.

1/2 STRANDING UPDATE. The large whale that stranded at Puponga, Golden Bay on Friday afternoon died late last night, just before 10pm. Locals were quick to attend the site and provide care to the whale, and DOC staff and local iwi remained with the whale into the night. pic.twitter.com/rf0zxwdhZd

— Project Jonah (@ProjectJonah) December 4, 2020

It was discovered by locals on Farewell Spit in the afternoon, and the general manager of the whale saving organisation Project Jonah, has now confirmed it died last night.

Daren Grover said the whale was showing signs of poor health from early on and there was likely an underlying reason for its stranding.

It is believed to be a Sei whale.

Grover said Department of Conservation staff and iwi will decide whether to move the whale’s carcass, or leave it and place a rahui on the beach.