A killer whale stranded on a beach in New Zealand has been released back into the sea.

The three-year-old orca was found on Whatipu beach in Huia, near Auckland, on Friday afternoon.

It was cared for overnight by the Department of Conservation before being driven across Auckland to Takapuna on the city's North Shore.

The 3.5m-long whale was then carefully lowered into calmer waters.

Jean-Michel Cousteau and his son Fabien - the son and grandson of the late ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau - were at the scene to shoot a documentary and witnessed the rescue.

© Independent Television News Limited 2009. All rights reserved.