Department of Conservation staff will attempt to rescue a second humpback whale tangled in rope this morning.
A tourist boat spotted the whale with short rope and a clear plastic buoy entangled near its mouth this morning, says DOC spokeswoman Carolyn Smith. The humpback is believed to be between 12 and 15 metres long.
The whale was last seen around 11am yesterday in the vicinity of Moturua Island. Tourist boats have been asked to report any sightings to DOC.
The rescue attempt will take place around 7am tomorrow, weather depending. At least two boats and a spotter plane will be involved in the operation.
Detangling expert Mike Morrissey, who helped free an “agitated” humpback whale this afternoon, will assist with the rescue.
The 30-tonne whale, freed this afternoon, was first spotted in Doubtless Bay on Monday, tangled in rope and debris.
Staff were unsuccessful in freeing the whale yesterday and began another rescue attempt yesterday morning.
They managed to secure a hook on the rope around the whale, and linked it to a 50m rope attached to five buoys.
DOC biodiversity operating manager Patrick Whaley, who helped with the operation, told NZPA the whale was "very strong" and would not tire.
Initially, the whale was pulling five buoys, but two hours later rescuers attached the line to a 7m coastguard boat and then another 6m boat.
"It just kept going," Mr Whaley said.
Mr Morrissey told NZPA the whale kept fighting the entire time, making noise and flapping its tail.
He said the whale would change direction, dive and come up another way.
"Right at the end, it started rolling... quite a bit of white water. It just kept us on our toes the entire time."
Staff used a curved knife on the end of a long pole to cut the rope.
At 3.30pm, the whale was freed and "took off like a rocket".
It made a big dive almost pulling the five buoys underwater, as a small rope was still attached to its tail, but it came loose with the pressure.
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 freeing the mammals using this afternoon's method, called "kegging".
3 News / NZPA