NZ supports some whaling

PHOTO

New Zealanders refloat stranded whales last December -but their government may agree to support some whaling by international hunters. [ABC]

Liv Casben, Auckland

Last Updated: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 15:43:00 +1100

New Zealand has taken a position at international whaling talks that appears to put it at odds with Australia.

At the weekend meeting of the International Whaling Commission, New Zealand encouraged support to allow Japan, Norway and Iceland to hunt whales.

In return, the total catch would be reduced over the next decade.

New Zealand's representative to the International Whaling Commission, Sir Geoffrey Palmer, says the focus is on reaching a diplomatic solution.

Numbers up

"The most important thing is to reduce the number of whales being killed," he said.

"The number being killed has gone up quite a lot in recent years."

The New Zealand government says it is still pushing for a complete ban on whaling - and no deal will be done until it was put to the people of New Zealand.

Australia rejects the proposal and has already threatened to take Japan to the International Court of Justice over whaling in the Southern Ocean.