Video shows pod of more than 40 false killer whales stranded at Taylor's Bay near Māhia

Watch: A video of the pod shows whales thrashing around in the water while locals help. Credits: Supplied

Video footage shows more than 60 people trying to help a huge pod of false killer whales stranded on a beach near Māhia.

The pod of around 40 large whales were seen swimming right into the shore at Taylor's Bay in Hawke's Bay on Sunday, before becoming stranded at about 2pm. 

A video shared to Newshub shows them thrashing around in the shallows, with several of them using their tails to try and move.

"Wow that one is on the shore. He's stuck, he's stranded," one woman exclaimed. 

A photo taken at the scene shows a large line of more than 60 people preventing the false killer whales from coming in any closer to shore.

Marine mammal rescue group Project Jonah confirmed it is working with the Department of Conservation (DoC) to help the whales, with the next high tide at 3am on Monday.

"Members of the public and team members are with the whales, while a larger response is being planned," a Project Jonah spokesperson said. 

"There's only ever been a handful of false killer whale strandings," they added. 

It's not known if any of them have refloated.