Up to eight whales have died and more have been beached after two pods of pilot whales became stranded in Whakatane's Ohiwa Harbour this evening.

Police staff have joined officials from the Department of Conservation at the scene, and Harbour Road has been closed to traffic from Taiawatea Drive.

Tonight's news follows the beaching of a 7.5 metre cuvier's beaked whale on Saturday.

The whales are beached on the ocean side of the harbour and Police have requested that members of the public stay off the beach.

No other people are required at the scene as Department of Conservation look to deal with the situation with as little hindrance as possible.

Tonight's news follows two similar events last week, where a juvenile curvier's beaked whale became stranded on the rocks near Maketu before being put down.

Within two days a larger whale of the same species was found washed up near Okurei Point on Saturday.