Hundreds of onlookers have gathered after a sperm whale became stranded on a Christchurch beach this evening.
The whale is currently "stranded on the ocean side of a sandbar which is too deep to walk to" on Brighton Beach, Project Jonah said in a statement this evening.
Project Jonah, Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri Rūnanga and the Department of Conservation are currently responding to the incident.
"With whales of this size there are a number of logical and health and safety considerations that must be taken into decision making," Project Jonah said.
"With the light now gone and high tide at 11pm the decision has been made not to enter the water tonight."
The whale is around 15 metres long, and is likely to weigh around 40 tonnes, Project Jonah general manager Daren Grover told 1News.
"With a whale of that size, there is very little you can do," he said.
He said there were concerns the crowd of onlookers may enter the water in an attempt to try and help the animal.
"It's extremely dangerous to be close to a stricken and highly distressed whale that's of this size," he said.
The public has been advised to "stay away" from the area.
The beach will be checked at first light.
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