Sombre end for whales

KELLY HODEL/Waikato Times

FAREWELL: A pilot whale that died in Sunday's stranding is lowered into a grave at Colville Beach yesterday.

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Coromandel iwi farewelled 21 dead pilot whales yesterday with a burial and karakia less than 100 metres from where 43 other whales swam to freedom on Sunday.

Ngati Tamatera's Waati Ngamana performed the prayer while locals, tourists and iwi representatives stood silently as the whales were lowered into their newly dug grave.

It was a sombre end to a tale which had both its highs and lows.

The Waikato Times was with the 300 volunteers who fought helplessly to save the lives of 63 pilot whales which became stranded at Colville Beach about 6am Sunday.

Their efforts paid off, with 43 of the whales finally swimming free at high tide – including a baby born during the re-floating.

Mr Ngamana, who came from Thames to perform the ceremony, said it was only fitting to have a proper burial for the dead whales.

Fellow iwi member and whale expert Dave Hamon spent all night Sunday with the whales, along with Liane Ngamana.

"It's not in our tikanga to leave our dead by themselves," Mr Hamon said.

"Maori have a strong connection with whales. We treat them as we would our dead on the marae.

"I wanted to make sure (these whales) were treated with the same respect."

He camped the night several metres from the whales, with only a blanket to keep him warm.

"There were a couple of people wanting to take the whales' teeth, but I said no."

Mr Hamon, who stood alone at the bottom of the whales' grave laying each whale down, said it was "very sad" to see so many dead – especially the two young whales.

"It's a whole family, just like humans. So it's not nice to see them this way."

The 21 whales were lifted by two diggers into the 20 metre by seven metre grave, with the smallest whale placed first.

They were laid facing north to ensure they faced the sun. Dutch tourists Chris van der lugt and Jessica Martier were mesmerised by the sight of so many dead whales.

They arrived in Colville only hours after the 43 other whales swam free.

"We read about the burial in the news and wanted to be here," Mr van der lugt said.

"We always read about these things happening on the other side of the world, but we've never seen it.

"If we'd been here Sunday we would have helped the whales for sure."

Ms Martier said it was awful seeing baby whales lying there.

"It looks like they're smiling though. They seem too perfect to be here on the beach."

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