Commercial whaling quota harpooned

Labour’s Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Chris Carter today welcomed the Government’s decision to reject a resumption of commercial whaling, which was negotiated by New Zealand’s diplomats at the International Whaling Commission.

However the Labour Party continues to have concerns about the plight of endangered whale species, which will be threatened by any resumption of commercial whaling.

“Labour has steadfastly refused to entertain the idea of commercial whaling in our Southern Ocean,” said Chris Carter.

“National’s back down from their plans to legalise limited commercial whaling is welcomed.

“It should be noted that it appears to have been John Key who came up with this global proposal to resume commercial whaling quotas. This was the Prime Minister’s grand diplomatic initiative which he made reference to in January.

“What National quickly found out was that its support for the whaling industry really offended our Pacific neighbours including Australia. National also found that global headlines about New Zealand’s support for whaling were highly damaging to our country’s 100% pure brand. Clearly the poll-sensitive National Party has realised that their credibility on conservation issues was being eroded at home too, and this could explain the latest flip-flop which we’re seeing today on whaling,” Chris Carter said.

“Fortunately this is one flip-flip Labour agrees with. Yet, while we welcome Foreign Minister McCully’s belated decision to reject his Prime Minister’s plans for commercial whaling quotas, we still have no idea what - if anything - this National Government will do to stop Japanese whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

“John Key and Murray McCully have severely damaged New Zealand’s previously proud reputation on marine mammal conservation by flirting with the idea of allowing some commercial whaling. Now that they have rejected this idea, just what are they going to do to stop whaling in our Southern Ocean?”

ENDS

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