Scientists and culture experts in New Zealand have begun the first-ever dissection of a spade-toothed whale, the world's rarest whale species.

New Zealand scientists on Monday began dissecting a whale considered the rarest in the world, a species so elusive that only seven specimens have ever been documented.

The week-long dissection offers a unique opportunity to study a deep-sea mammal that has never been seen alive.

New Zealand has placed strict movement controls on a commercial egg farm in the southern region of Otago after testing confirmed its chickens are infected with bird flu, but said it is not the strain causing concern globally.

New Zealand has halted all poultry exports after confirming its first case of bird flu on an egg farm in the southern region of Otago. Exports of poultry products worth about NZ$190 million (US$112 million) a year will cease until New Zealand can once again attest to being free of bird flu,