The carcass of a dead sperm whale has been uncovered following stormy seas churned up by Ex Cyclone Hale.

The 16m sperm whale beached at Matapaua Bay in the Coromandel on October 25, 2022.

Local iwi Ngāti Hei named the sperm whale Puhiwai Rangi, which refers to the name of the whenua adjacent to the place where the deceased whale was beached.

'The gift from Tangaroa. Puhiwai Rangi has been brought back to Wharekaho. The Taonga will live on with cultural significance and respect,” says Ngāti Hei kaumātua Joe Davis.

In posts on social media this week, Coromandel residents says they are sad that the whale was not buried deep enough.

Another poster is wondering where is the community support after the remains of Puhiwai Rangi were exposed following this week's storm?

Department of Conservation Coromandel operations manager Nick Kelly says DOC staff inspected the whale burial site at Wharekaho yesterday, alongside Ngati Hei representatives.

"Part of the whale has been exposed as a result of the cyclonic conditions and heavy swell hitting the region.

"At this point it is too dangerous for us to carry out any remedial work, but once conditions/weather settle, we will rebury the exposed part of the animal.

"Ngati Hei members who live locally will continue to monitor the site.

"We have had one previous recent incident, about three years ago, when storm surges/swells uncovered buried pilot whales at Matarangi – these animals were relocated as a result, after discussion with iwi.

"To be clear - there is no current intention to move the sperm whale at Wharekaho and we expect to rebury it with sand when conditions and logistics allow, as noted above."

Information on sperm whales can be found on the DOC website here: Sperm whales: New Zealand marine mammals (doc.govt.nz)