Department of Conservation (DOC) staff are again trying to free a large humpback whale which has been tangled in rope off the Far North coast for at least the last two days.
The 12-metre long, 30 tonne whale was first spotted entangled in rope and debris in Doubtless Bay on Monday. The rescue operation was suspended yesterday as the whale was not found until late afternoon.
A DOC plane found the whale early this morning which would give rescue staff maximum daylight hours to try to free the animal, DOC spokeswoman Carolyn Smith said.
Four staff and two boats are working to free the whale using a 'kegging' method adapted from whalers.
The operation will involve approaching the whale from behind by boat, then attaching a grapnel hook on the entangling rope. A hook on the end of a 10m rope will be placed on the debris around the whale's head. That rope will be linked to a longer 50m rope which is hooked up to some buoys.
The whale will be slowed and tired and then staff will use a curved knife on the end of a long pole to cut the rope.
"We really need to make sure we tire the whale out before attempting to free it because it is so large. It's a bit like big game fishing on a much larger scale," Ms Smith told NZPA.
The biggest concern was that the whale was wary of its rescuers as they had approached it before.
Weather conditions are favourable today.
There have been 10 entangled whales in the Kaikoura area in the past 10 years, and DOC staff in the area have received training in Australia and New Zealand on the kegging method.
NZPA