Aerial search for stranded baby orca's pod resumes off Kāpiti Coast

The baby orca was stranded on Plimmerton Beach.
The baby orca was stranded on Plimmerton Beach. Photo credit: RNZ / Dom Thomas

An aerial search for an orca pod in waters around the Wellington region has resumed after four days of bad weather.

If the pod can be found, it's hoped a stranded baby orca will be reunited with the family it became separated from eight days ago.

An aircraft is scheduled to search the area on Monday afternoon.

A credible sighting of the pod off the Kāpiti Coast was reported two days ago, but the weather made it unsafe to search.

Later on Monday the baby orca, which has been cared for in a pool, is being released into a pen in Karehana Bay at Plimmerton, north of Wellington.

RNZ