3rd March 2008
Media Advisory

Sails for whales petition presented to Green MP tomorrow

Green Party MP Metiria Turei will be presented a petition with a difference tomorrow, 4th of March, on the steps of Parliament at 1pm.

More than 4000 supporters of the anti-whaling petition have signed boat sails, which will be handed to Mrs Turei by David Taylor.

Mr Taylor sailed solo to the Antarctic this summer to help raise awareness of whaling. "This petition is testimony that New Zealanders are united in their abhorrence of the barbaric act of whaling," Mrs Turei says.

"The signatories to this petition are distressed, as are the Green Party and the vast majority of New Zealanders, at the painful, unnecessary deaths of more than 1000 whales in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

"Despite official protests and diplomatic measures at venues such as the International Whaling Commission, little has changed for the whales of the Southern Ocean.

"The New Zealand Government's approach to whaling this summer has sadly lacked the boldness that these signatories have shown.

"The Green Party is proud to be part of the national call for the Japanese Government to end their inhumane and unethical hunt immediately."

What: Presentation to Metiria Turei of the Sails for Whales petition
When: 1-2pm, Tuesday, 4 March 2008
Where: Parliament steps, Wellington

ENDS

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