Fifty-eight pilot whales were dead after a pod of 73 stranded on New Zealand Northland's Karikari Beach near Kaitaia on Friday.

20 Beached Pilot Whales Die On New Zealand Beach; 43 Others Coaxed Back To Sea in December,2009[File photo]

Kimberly Muncaster, chief executive of Project Jonah, told NZPA that 15 whales were still alive but were in a "fairly poor condition" and the Department of Conservation (DOC) was working out a strategy to rescue them.

"The strategy might be to refloat or hold them overnight, or if the animals are too sick, it might be to euthanasia.

Muncaster heard about the stranding at 11 a.m. Friday.

She urged people not to rush down to the scene as it could make the rescue operation more difficult.

Fifteen pilot whales were still alive, and that efforts to re- float them may take place on Saturday morning.