Animalscaretips
Whales are still "hunted" in New Zealand, but with cameras, not harpoons. At Kaikoura on the north-east coast of the South Island a tourist industry based on whale watching attracts thousands of visitors each year.
- What is New Zealand's current stance on whaling?
- Is whaling illegal in NZ?
- Why did New Zealand stop whaling?
- Why is whaling an issue?
- How many whales are killed each year?
- Did Polynesians hunt whales?
- When did whaling become illegal?
- How many whales were killed in NZ?
- When did whaling happen in New Zealand?
- Is whaling inhumane?
- Is whaling still a problem?
- Is whaling ethical?
- How long would whalers spend at sea at a time?
- When did Maori arrive in NZ?
- Why did whalers hunt seals?
What is New Zealand's current stance on whaling?
We remain strongly opposed to 'scientific' whaling in the Southern Ocean and North Pacific. New Zealand strongly believes that whale research can be carried out using non-lethal methods.
Is whaling illegal in NZ?
Whale watching
Hunting whales in New Zealand waters was made illegal in 1978. Today, people enjoy watching whales, rather than catching them.
Why did New Zealand stop whaling?
New Zealand ceased whaling in 1964, when the Tory Channel station closed. Humpback whales had ceased migrating through Cook Strait and commercial whaling was no longer viable. New Zealand left the IWC in 1968.
Why is whaling an issue?
The future for whales is threatened by countries' disregarding and working to lift the IWC's moratorium on commercial whale hunting, as well as vessel strikes, fishing gear entanglement, ocean pollution (including marine debris), habitat loss and human-created, loud noise.
How many whales are killed each year?
An estimated minimum of 300,000 whales and dolphins are killed each year as a result of fisheries bycatch, while others succumb to a myriad of threats including shipping and habitat loss.
Did Polynesians hunt whales?
According to myth, the Maori people arrived in New Zealand riding the back of a whale; today, whales figure prominently in Maori art and stories. Now it appears that Maori ancestors may also have systematically hunted the animals.
When did whaling become illegal?
The U.S. officially outlawed whaling in 1971. In 1946, several countries joined to form the International Whaling Commission (IWC). The IWC's purpose is to prevent overhunting of whales. Its original regulations, however, were loose, and quotas were high.
How many whales were killed in NZ?
It brought an end to 137 years of commercial whaling in New Zealand. Records show more than 4000 whales were killed at the top of the south from 1911 to 1964.
When did whaling happen in New Zealand?
Whaling in New Zealand
Whalers and sealers were among the first Europeans to arrive in New Zealand. The first shore based whaling stations were established in southern New Zealand in the late 1820s. From very early on Maori joined the whaling vessels as crew.
Is whaling inhumane?
The Animal Welfare Institute believes all whaling to be inherently cruel. Even the most advanced whaling methods cannot guarantee an instantaneous death or ensure that struck animals are rendered insensible to pain and distress before they die, as is the generally accepted standard for domestic food animals.
Is whaling still a problem?
Whaling is illegal in most countries, however Iceland, Norway, and Japan still actively engage in whaling . Over a thousand whales are killed each year for their meat and body parts to be sold for commercial gain. ... Whale meat is even used in pet food, or served to tourists as a 'traditional dish'.
Is whaling ethical?
As long as survival of species is not at risk, the moral argument against whaling is difficult to justify as it is a matter of animal rights or animal welfare but not conservation. ... The claim that whaling is immoral based on the lack of shared food habits is merely a reflection of a specific value.
How long would whalers spend at sea at a time?
The whaling schooner, the smallest whaler, generally undertook 6-month voyages, while brigs, barks, and ships might be at sea for three or four years.
When did Maori arrive in NZ?
Māori settlement
The first people to arrive in New Zealand were ancestors of the Māori. The first settlers probably arrived from Polynesia between 1200 and 1300 AD. They discovered New Zealand as they explored the Pacific, navigating by the ocean currents, winds and stars.
Why did whalers hunt seals?
Australia in the 1800s
In the early 1800s, seals and whales were hunted around the Bass Strait islands. The seals were killed for their fur skins and the huge elephant seals for their oil. Seal fur was very popular in England and China where it was used for boots and clothing.
