Giant squid washes up on New Zealand beach

Wellington: A giant squid measuring seven metres in length from top to the tentacles, washed up on a beach in New Zealand's South Island on Thursday.

The giant squid was spotted at Kaikoura town's South Bay, The New Zealand Herald reported.

According to Kaikoura Marine Centre and Aquarium, the giant squid has a body over two metres long and eyes measuring 19 cm in diameter.

Photos of the marine animal were posted on Facebook by the centre, which said it moved the find "before the birds got to it".

"We got help to move it to the aquarium where it is safe inside a freezer," they added.

They have the squid in a freezer with glass windows so it can be viewed by the public.