Four of between 30 and 40 pilot whales beached in Northland this afternoon have died

The rest have been refloated after stranding on Ruakaka Beach and drawing hundreds of people to the scene.

A reporter at the scene says the whales that died were three adults and a calf.

The rest of the pod were turned back out to sea, with people on the beach forming a wall in the water and making banging sounds to keep them from restranding.

A karakia has been said for the dead whales.