The Department of Conservation (Doc) said the whale was reported by fishers on Saturday morning and was last seen between Lucky Point and Saddle Point that afternoon.
The whale appeared to be breathing comfortably and was not in immediate danger, giving responders time to assess the situation and determine the safest course of action.
CRA8 Rock Lobster Industry Association said in a statement this evening that a Doc specialist disentanglement team from Kaikoura had been called in, and the whale was successfully freed this afternoon, to the delight of Rakiura fishers and the Doc team.
"Our fishers did exactly the right thing, and today's outcome is a testament to what happens when people who work on the water take their responsibilities seriously," Kathryn Molloy, Chief Executive of CRA8, said.
"We are so relieved this whale is free. The Rakiura fishing community cares deeply about the ocean and everything in it."
Molloy said Southern right whales were among the rarest marine mammals in New Zealand waters, "and their slow recovery from near-extinction makes every individual precious".
She said they acknowledged Doc's specialist team, and all those who reported sightings to help locate the animal.
"CRA8 will be working with Doc and the wider fishing sector to review how we can better protect whales in these waters going forward."
- Allied Media
