A petition signed by 53,000 people calling for the Government to protect the future of the international whale population was presented to the office of Foreign Minister Murray McCully today as an important International Whaling Commission (IWC) looms.
Anti-whaling groups congregated on the steps of Parliament this afternoon to press their case and various speakers talked about the need for New Zealand to do everything possible to help put an end to whaling.
There were concerns about a draft proposal before the IWC which could legitimise some commercial whaling by Japan in the Southern Ocean.
The IWC holds its annual meeting in Morocco from June 20 and it is expected to include discussions about the future of the organisation, which has for years been battling with opposing views from its member countries.
Mr McCully said today he sensed there could be some flexibility in terms of the draft plan in front of the IWC and there would be more discussions over the next couple of weeks.
He said the Government's goal was to see an end to all whaling in the Southern Ocean and unless that happened within an acceptable time there would be no agreements made on New Zealand's behalf.
Mr McCully said he would have a "full and comprehensive" discussion next Wednesday with the heads of the groups involved in organising today's petition presentation.
"I'm hoping between now and then to have had some further conversations with people in Japan to get a greater sense of the landscape," he said.
Australia recently initiated legal action in the International Court of Justice over Japan's current Southern Ocean whaling activities.
While New Zealand is still trying to achieve its goals through diplomatic means, it has not ruled out joining Australia if no adequate progress can be made.
NZPA