November 4, 2005
New jobs new challenges
Were back in Wellington, the 'seat of power', for the final stop of our trip. Theres been a lot going on since we past through here a couple of weeks ago. And probably the most significant has been the announcement of a new Cabinet and in particular, of new Ministers of Foreign Affairs and of Fisheries.
Welcome to your new jobs Winston and Jim!
Were particularly glad theres now someone in these Ministerial offices. Theres important work to be done and both Mr Peters and Mr Anderton have the opportunity to show true international leadership by championing protection for life in the deep sea over coming months.
With negotiations resuming at the United Nations this week, Mr Peters can help our officials to find through political stumbling blocks to a moratorium and ensure that NZ lives up to its reputation as a world leader in marine conservation.
And in the lead-up to the first meeting to establish a South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (RFMO), Mr Anderton can ensure that not only is interim protection for deep sea life is high on the agenda, but also that it will be strong and comprehensive.
While a RFMO could offer long term solutions to the problems of high seas bottom trawling, it is going to take years to negotiate.In the meantime, every day bottom trawlers are out there and every day more deep sea life is being wiped out.
Im sure they would both love to hear that you support action from them. So why not write to both Mr Peters and Mr Anderton and encourage them to do their very important bit to help protect the life of the deep sea.
Good luck in your new roles gentlemen. Those of us on this trip, and people all over New Zealand, will be watching your efforts with anticipation.
Comments on this entry:
Hi guys,
I have mostly followed bottom trawling in the Northern hemisphere, so I'm glad to read what's going on , on the other side of our planet.
I must say that I'm very surprised and disappointed that NZ is a bottom trawling country. I have always thought you New Zeelander's were fighting for the marine environment... saving whales and so on... This BT industry doesn't fit in!
Is BT a big issue in NZ? Anyway, I'm an Estonian, and in Estonia(a BT nation as well) BT is a "non-issue". Maybe that is good, it seems like the BT industry has "only" support from the Environmental Ministry.
Keep on fighting for the moratorium!
Posted by: Ann Novek at November 5, 2005 3:44 AM
