Commercial whaling has to stop-that was the message that the New Zealand government sent out loud and clear, following Canberra's statement on Japanese whaling, and how they stood firmly against it.
The International Whaling Commission is set to meet in Brazil on Monday, and New Zealand aims to present its case in front of it. News AU states Foreign Minister Winston Peters looking to address the floor and present their case to the international whaling body. Peters will issue the statement, and hope that the organization will respond to their requests.
Japan, one of the remaining whaling countries in the world, also wants to present a case in the international body. The Japan Fisheries Agency hopes that the organization would instead rule on their behalf; that it would lift the existing moratorium on whaling, and to have a new commercial whaling quota in place, hopefully not later than 2020.
New Zealand, however, is adamant with their demands. In Australia's corner, the government is more willing to receive concessions-it was reported that the government was looking at abandoning its $1.2 million bid in an effort to take the case with Japan to the governing body.
There were reports that New Zealand was also willing to make agreements, but New Zealand Conservation Minister Steve Chadwick said otherwise. He cleared up allegations, stating that the government's positions was still the same, and instead, according to NZ Herald, the government's silence was because they were looking for other strong points to make that will further legitimize the case against Japan.
Australia PM Kevin Rudd had the idea of using the whaling body to take the case against the Japanese. Backed by aerial and nautical evidence, the government took pictures of Japanese whalers in action, but has since encountered difficulties. This led the PM to say that it was near impossible to bring the case to court.
New Zealand, however, is still pushing for the moratorium. Winston Peters continues to stress that the commission should instead renew its focus on whale conservation efforts. They have an ally in at least Australian Senator Anne Ruston, who renewed calls for the moratorium to continue on Australia's behalf, while encouraging other sea-faring countries to do so.
Australia, meanwhile, will tackle the substinence of the indigenous Aborigines on whaling, special permits being issued, and the creation of a sanctuary in the South Atlantic for whales.
