A gigantic New Zealand pygmy blue whale washed ashore at a Horowhenua beach on Tuesday morning.
The Department of Conservation (DoC) was told early on Tuesday morning that a whale was at Hokio Beach in Horowhenua.
Operation manager for Manawatu Moana Smith-Dunlop said DoC's marine team have since confirmed the whale to be a New Zealand pygmy blue whale.
"The whale was unfortunately dead on arrival."
Smith-Dunlop said the local DoC team waited for the tide to recede before taking samples. She said there are plans to bury the whale shortly with support from local iwi.
Images captured by Newshub show the sheer scale of the pygmy blue whale as locals and officials stood around it.
New Zealand pygmy blue whales are genetically distinct from other pygmy blue whales and only swim around Aotearoa waters.
