NZ must deliver blunt message on whaling

The Greens are urging the Government to make New Zealand’s anger and revulsion clear in the strongest possible terms when it takes part in an international diplomatic protest against Japan’s whaling programme.

“It’s crucial the unconfirmed reports that Japan may spare the lives of 50 endangered humpback whales do not distract from the message delivered by the representatives of anti-whaling nations,” Green Party Conservation Spokesperson Metiria Turei says.

“It’s good news, and I sincerely hope it’s true. But it’s just a drop in the ocean. Japan still has plans to kill some 1000 whales this season. If this is intended as a concession to silence the growing international criticism, we must make it crystal clear to the Japanese that it has failed.

“The Greens will continue to fight for an end to all whaling. We must not relax pressure on the Japanese Government one iota, and should work through every possible medium to end this barbaric practice once and for all.

“We repeat our call to the Japanese Government to recall its whaling fleet and spare the lives of the more than 1000 whales it plans to slaughter for ‘scientific purposes’ in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary,” Mrs Turei says.