Green Party welcomes Govt anti-whaling legal action

The Green Party today welcomed the announcement that the New Zealand Government has lodged an intervention at the International Court of Justice.

"This legal action challenges Japan's so-called scientific whaling, which everyone knows is simply a guise for commercial whaling," said Green Party oceans spokesperson Gareth Hughes.

"In the absence of a diplomatic solution, the best chance for the protection of whales lies in applying existing international law.

"Kiwis love whales and want to see their protection enforced," said Mr Hughes.

"The Government must do more to oppose Japan's illegal whaling, including increased diplomatic pressure and sending a naval vessel to the Southern Ocean to monitor and protest the whale slaughter."