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Whanau in Patea worked through the night in an unsuccessful attempt to save an orca that stranded on the shore.
Debbie Ngarewa-Packer from Ngati Ruanui says rangatahi from Patea Area School were first at the scene with buckets and spades, but by nightfall the whole community was trying to help refloat the young female.
She says emotions were running high.
"They get distressed and have a high pitched whine you'd expect you would hear something more like a whale it was actually more like a puppy in trouble. It was very emotional for the community but everyone was sort of pitching in and wanting her to live and by the time the tide would come out at 1pm or half past one, it was getting too dangerous and the waves were getting big and she wasn't responding, I think she was had it", Debbie said.
FULL INTERVIEW: DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER
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