New Zealand wants to find a quicker way to save whales than taking Japan to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Prime Minister John Key says.Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has said either Japan stops killing whales in the Southern Ocean by Nov
New Zealand wants to find a quicker way to save whales than taking Japan to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Prime Minister John Key says.
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has said either Japan stops killing whales in the Southern Ocean by November, or it will be taken to the ICJ.
The Government has the option of supporting that case, but it prefers to first seek a diplomatic solution.
"Any court case is likely to take a long time to resolve," Mr Key said yesterday at his post-cabinet press conference.
"We really want to save some whales. Coming up with a diplomatic solution has got to be a faster way than a court case."
Mr Key said that was why the Government was holding off on a court case.
"We've made it clear that our preference is to try to find a diplomatic solution, and I think that's actually what Australia wants to do.
"If the diplomatic solution fails, and the only option is a court action, at that time we will consider whether we will join Australia -- but I wouldn't jump to conclusions that we would.
Mr Key said a diplomatic solution was "progressing" but he didn't know whether it would succeed.
Earlier today he said it would either be a stunning success or a stunning failure.
The Labour Party wants the Government to back Australia's position.
Foreign Minister Murray McCully also said a diplomatic solution was New Zealand's preference.
"Diplomatically gets you a quick solution, going head to head means this thing is tied up for ages in the ICJ," he said.
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