Northland's Te Roroa iwi has placed a rāhui or ban on the collection of shellfish and fishing on the beach where two humpback whales died this week.
Attempts to rescue the adult humpback whale stranded at Ripiro Beach were unsuccessful. Photo: RNZ / Dan Cook
The rāhui stretches from Baylys Beach to Mahuta Gap, and is supported by the Department of Conservation (DOC).
DOC said the ban would last for at least the next few days as the carcasses deteriorated and was disposed of.
Tangata whenua are working at the site under the supervision of Ngāti Wai, to salvage culturally-valuable materials from the whales.
