25 March 2001

Greens welcome Lee's comments on importing captive dolphins

Green Party MP Sue Kedgley today welcomed Conservation Minister Sandra Lee's opposition to importing dolphins for the Napier amunsement park Marineland.

"Having publicly opposed the plans to bring in more zoo-bred dolphins for Marineland last year, the Greens are delighted with the Minister's comments," said Ms Kedgley.

Ms Kedgley said that as the decision on whether Marineland can import more dolphins is the decision of the Minister, it looks as if the days of keeping dolphins in captivity are fast coming to an end.

"The Green Party believe dolphins should not be kept in captivity and we oppose any more dolphins for Marineland.

Ms Kedgley said she thought most New Zealanders would agree that dolphins were very special creatures that belonged in the sea instead of a tank, and that New Zealand should not in any way contribute to or aid the capture or captive breeding of dolphins.

"The school of dolphins that entertained Wellingtonians in the Wellington Harbour last week is a perfect example that if people really want to see and swim with dolphins then they can do so in the wild and on the dolphins terms," said Ms Kedgley.

Sue Kedgley MP: 04 384 9123, 025 270 9088 Jonathan Hill (press secretary): 04 470 6719, 021 440 090

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>