Saturday, 19 March 2011 MEDIA STATEMENT

John Key government turns blind eye to endangered dolphins

The Ministry of Fisheries’ decision to lift a butterfish netting ban off the South Island's east coast is bad news for the endangered Hector’s dolphin, Labour’s conservation spokesperson Ruth Dyson says.

The restrictions were put in place in 2008 to protect the dolphins.
“Hector’s are among the most endangered dolphin species in the world and the east coast of the south island is one of very few coastal areas where they live,” Ruth Dyson said.

“That means we as New Zealanders have a responsibility to look after them and ensure the species survives. Unfortunately, this government, and particularly Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson, has ducked that responsibility.

“This is just the latest battle conservation has lost under Kate Wilkinson .

She has a woeful track record on conservation issues – her ministerial colleagues around the Cabinet table seem to win the arguments every time.

“She is either silent on these issues or does not present a sufficiently strong case.

“Either way, conservation is the perennial loser under this National government. And that means we all end up losing in the end,” Ruth Dyson said.

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