Greenpeace calls on NZ Government to save the whales, not whaling

A mock weigh-in of a six metre replica whale ‘caught’ by John Key has appeared in front of his electorate office with Greenpeace calling on him to reject any deal that would legitimise commercial whaling.

To the outrage of many New Zealanders, the Government is supporting a proposal to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) which would allow Japan, Norway and Iceland to hunt whales openly, despite a 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling.

Greenpeace New Zealand oceans campaigner Karli Thomas said the Government’s support of the IWC proposal was undoing decades of conservation work by Kiwis to protect whales.

Over the years New Zealand has become one of the strongest defenders of whale conservation. But if this proposal goes ahead we’ll be undermining the most important protection the whales have – the moratorium on commercial whaling,” she said.

New Zealand must save the whales, not the whalers. New Zealanders need to stand up and say no to a Government that is prepared to undermine the most important protection whales have.”

This morning’s mock weigh-in, including a stand-in of Prime Minister John Key proudly standing along side his ‘catch’ holding a blood-covered harpoon, in front of his Kumeu electorate office, was designed to highlight the Government’s surrender of New Zealand’s whale conservation heritage, she said.

“Our national values are under increasing attack by the Government. First, they propose opening up precious conservation land to mining and are now supporting a deal that would legitimise commercial whaling. What’s next on the list? Nuclear ships in our harbours?”

Thomas said New Zealand should instead be supporting the Australian Government which rejects the IWC proposal and is pushing for whaling in the Southern Ocean to stop within five years. Australia is also threatening to take Japan to the International Court of Justice to force the issue if diplomacy fails (1).

The proposal has been developed by a small working group of the IWC, chaired by former New Zealand Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey Palmer. New Zealand officials describe it as a compromise deal (2) but it has been widely criticised as ushering in a new era of commercial whaling. A decision is expected in June.