6. Hon MARIAN HOBBS (Labour—Wellington Central) Link to this
to the Minister of Conservation
What initiative is the Government taking to protect whales and dolphins in the South Pacific Ocean?
Hon CHRIS CARTER (Minister of Conservation) Link to this
Tomorrow, in Noumea, the Associate Minister of Conservation, Mahara Okeroa, will sign a memorandum of understanding on behalf of the New Zealand Government that will significantly increase the protection for whales and dolphins in our region. For the past 3 years Pacific nations, through the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme, have been working on the memorandum of understanding, which commits signatories to work actively to protect whale and dolphin habitats.
New Zealand is a leading conservation nation, like the UK. This memorandum, under the convention on migratory species, provides an effective alternative to the International Whaling Commission for Pacific countries interested in pursuing whale and dolphin protection. A significant feature of it is that non-governmental organisations can now join, providing a united voice on marine mammal issues. I just heard Judith Collins call out: “Boring!”. I support conservation; I thought that member would, too.
Judith CollinsI raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I take offence to that comment. I did not call it out and I do not find conservation boring, even if that Minister is.
Madam SPEAKERThank you for clarifying that. That was not a point of order, and it was also compounded by the member making a flippant statement. I remind members on all sides of the Chamber that when they are making points of order, or when they are asking or answering questions, they should stick to the point. [ Interruption]
Hon Dr Nick SmithThe member will please be seated. I understood that the member was clarifying that she had not made that statement, and that she did not find the subject boring but found the Minister boring. If she is in fact asking for the Minister to withdraw his comment that she had called out “Boring!”, then I would ask him to withdraw it so we can move on.