New Zealand not to ban anti-whaling protestors
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New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully said New Zealand will not ban the anti-whaling protest group Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, despite a request by Japan.
Japan has blamed continued harassment by the group for its decision to halt this year's whale hunt in the Southern Ocean early.
After Japan called off its whale hunt, the Japanese Government called in ambassadors from New Zealand, Australia and the Netherlands, asking them to take action against Sea Shepherd.
But McCully said on Sunday New Zealand operates a policy of open ports and there would need to be a very good reason to deny access. Currently, he said, there is no reason to do so.
He said the Southern Ocean is in New Zealand's search and rescue zone but this country has no jurisdiction in the area.
McCully said various conventions give responsibility to the flag nations and no New Zealand flagged ships were involved this year.
Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson said the protesters won't stop until Japan stops hunting whales for good.
He said the whaling fleet is heading home after taking less than a tenth of its quota this season, which means 900 whales have been saved.
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