Pod of dolphins, stranded

Department of Conservation staff have been called in to help save a small pod of dolphins stranded at Waipu Cove beach in Northland.

The police say five dolphins came ashore at about 1pm on Saturday, stranding themselves in shallow water.

Surf lifesavers from the Waipu Cove Club helped to herd two of the mammals back out to sea using their rescue boats.

Lifesaver Josh Godfrey says two stranded dolphins are being kept alive by locals with towels and buckets.

He says several of the dolphins appear to have been injured.