Rescuers have worked around the clock digging channels around a humpback whale with the hope that she'd be surrounded by enough water to swim to safety.
A reminder of what was at stake: a younger whale laid lifeless just a few metres away, where the pair had been marooned south of Baylys Beach near Dargaville on Sunday morning.
"At around 7am to 7:15am this morning, I noticed the whale had slowed down its breathing... and about 30 minutes later it hadn't taken a breath and it passed peacefully," said whale biologist Dr Ingrid Visser.
It isn't confirmed whether the pair are mother and calf, but whale biologists say it is likely. Dr Visser said "we haven't run the DNA, but their behaviour is indicative that they knew each other very well".
The larger whale has been relatively stable, but at times her breathing has increased, which shows she has been in distress. The fear is that even if she's freed, she could beach again.
"There is an example happening right this moment, that there is a mother [whale] out there who has been carrying her dead calf for 10 days now, so we know these animals grieve and she may go looking for her calf," said Dr Visser.
A female orca whale was seen pushing the body of her new-born calf after it had passed away.
The community is rallying to lend a helping hand and hoping for the best to save the stranded whale in New Zealand.
The body of the young calf will now be taken care of by iwi, with plans to utilise the resources, such as the bones, for education.
High tide began at 5pm and so far there's been no success in re-floating the 12-metre humpback whale. The rescue team will stay on the beach overnight and make another attempt at the next high tide.
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