15 Dec 2010

NZ not filing as party to whaling legal action

8:32 pm on 15 December 2010

The Government has decided not to file as a party to Australia's legal action in the International Court of Justice against Japanese whaling in the Southern Ocean.

Instead, New Zealand will formally intervene in the case, meaning it will be able to make both written and oral submissions opposing Japan's practice of what it calls scientific whaling.

Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Kevin Rudd says it confirms New Zealand as a strong partner in the bid to end scientific whaling.

New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully says not taking a case to the International Court of Justice will allow New Zealand to continue to pursue the end of whaling in the Southern Ocean through diplomatic channels.