The New Zealand Herald reports the body was too damaged to be part of the collection at Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, the country's national museum, but the invertebrate's beak (mouth) was taken to determine its age.
Radio New Zealand reported the male squid had visible bite marks and may have been attacked by other sea creatures. Hours later, the squid was washed back out to sea after throngs of people came to see it.
Male giant squids can grow up to 10 metres/32.81 feet while females can measure up to 13 metres/42.65 feet.
