Two dolphins in a mass stranding at Whakanewa Bay on Auckland's Waiheke Island have died, the Department of Conservation (DOC) says.
In a statement on Friday afternoon, DOC said the two deceased dolphins included one adult and one calf.
Local iwi Ngāti Pāoa have decided the bodies will be taken to Massey University in Albany, where researchers can determine what caused the mass stranding.
The deceased will then be returned to Whakanewa Bay to be buried.
"It's really important to us as iwi that we know why our tipuna have died," Ngāti Pāoa's Kaiwai Rhind told 1News.
"Is it because of some other reason that they didn't choose?"
Auckland Central MP Chloe Swarbrick was seen standing in the water to prevent the dead dolphins from floating out to sea.
DOC had been working with Ngāti Pāoa, rescue organisation Project Jonah and other volunteers to help the pod of common dolphins stranded at Whakanewha Bay on Friday morning.
DOC's Dave Chandler said while they've "had the odd stranding, normally it's when it's a deceased animal".
"This is actually the first live stranding I've been to," he said.
The remaining pod of common dolphins were refloated following the stranding at Whakanewha Bay. (Source: 1News)
The remaining surviving dolphins had all been refloated and were seen heading out to deeper water by 4.40pm on Friday, DOC said.
Rescuers will check the stranding site on Saturday morning in case any dolphins restrand.
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