An attempt to lift a carcass of a small whale found dead in Lyttelton Harbour on too a waiting truck failed after the mamals body proved to heavy for the mobile crane, Lyttleton. Photo by NZPA.

The remains of a whale that died after becoming beached on Christchurch's Southshore Beach last month have been removed from the water.

The 5m whale, thought to have been a cuviers beaked whale, had been floating in the water since October 21, Department of Conservation spokeswoman Sarah Mankelo said.

This morning a boat pulled its remains into Lyttelton Harbour, where a crane was to be used to lift it on to a truck.

It would be taken to Bottle Lake Park, 10km northeast of Christchurch, to be buried, Ms Mankelo said.