Pilot whales beached at Farewell Spit MORE than a dozen pilot whales have been beached on Farewell Spit at the northern tip of the South Island. Department of Conservation (DOC) staff are in a boat near the spit trying to prevent another 50 whales, which are still in the water, from joining them. DOC was alerted to the pod of about 60 whales close to the shore off Taupata Point on Tuesday morning. Since then, 13 have washed up near the base of Farewell Spit. Volunteers from Project Jonah have been called to help with the stranded whales and a DOC boat is attempting to shepherd the other whales out to sea. The volunteers and DOC will try to shield the beached whales from the sun and refloat them by nightfall. "We plan to attempt to refloat the stranded whales in the incoming tide tonight," DOC Takaka ranger Greg Napp said. We are hoping we can get them afloat and further out to sea before dark when it would become unsafe for people to work in the sea trying to refloat the whales. Pilot whales regularly strand on Farewell Spit and last Monday 39 stranded near the base. All died or were euthanised.