A whale that became stranded in Christchurch’s estuary is being taken away for burial at a private location.

 The whale was spotted by residents off Moncks Bay in Redcliffs about 8pm on Sunday.

The Department of Convervation said whale died about 3.30am.

 It was a juvenile fin whale measuring 7 to 8 metres in length.

A Coastguard boat towed the whale to shore, in front of hundreds of onlookers.

 There’s no word yet on what may have prompted the whale to go to shallow waters.