By Samantha Hayes
New Zealand has reversed its anti-whaling stance and is backing a deal that would allow Japan to return to commercial whaling.
Click here to see John Key's comments on whaling in today's press conference
The Government says it's the only way to reduce the number of whales killed, but Labour says it turns New Zealand into a pro-whaling country.
Despite a moratorium on whaling since 1986, around 2000 are killed every year, mostly by Japan in the Southern Ocean whale sanctuary.
Sanctioning it, even in the short term, doesn't go down well in Kaikoura, the capital of the watch-don't-eat industry.
New Zealand has agreed to back a deal that would see a return to commercial whaling by Japan, Norway and Iceland, overturning decades of Kiwi anti-whaling sentiment.
“New Zealand is not softening its stance, we will find a diplomatic solution which will decide whether it goes to court with Australia,” he says.
The Government says the compromise was critical as the International Whaling Commission was threatening to break apart.
The plan would see Japan drop all scientific whaling and everyone agree to a quota of whales that could be caught.
Labour’s Chris Carter says Mr Key’s decision opens the door to more illegal whalers.
“How are we going to check that Japan is killing fewer whales under a commercial agreement? How are you going to stop other countries saying, ‘If the Japanese can do it and the Norwegians and the Icelanders can do it legally, why can't we?’” he says.
Sea Shepherd says New Zealand has crumbled to Japanese intransigence.
Australia says if Japan doesn't stop whaling by November it'll go to the International Criminal Court of Justice, action New Zealand initially said it would not support but now Mr Key says he's considering.
WWF has described the diplomatic negotiations as “a dangerous precedent” but says it doesn't support commercial whaling.
Greenpeace has warned that the Government could find itself supporting whaling in areas designated as international whale sanctuaries.
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