A 14 metre long Sei whale has died, after being stranded at Farewell Spit, in Golden Bay

It was beached around one kilometre from the high water mark, and it was hoped the whale would be able to refloat itself when the tide was at its peak.

But the whale died around 10 last night.

Project Jonah general manager Daren Grover says the Department of Conservation will work with iwi on a blessing, before decisions are made on how to bury the whale.