Mā ui dolphin claims dismissed in US case
We surveyed Kiwis on their attitudes and intentions towards green lifestyle and transport choices
New Zealand’s commercial fishing industry says the lifting of a temporary ban on some fish exports to the US is a vote of confidence in how fisheries here are managed.
The US Court of International
Trade has lifted a preliminary injunction preventing the export to the US of nine New Zealand fish species caught on the west coast of the North Island.
The injunction was successfully sought in 2022 by environmental group Sea Shepherd, which alleged the standards used by New Zealand to protect the critically endangered Mā ui dolphin were not compatible with similar US standards.
Seafood New Zealand, which represents commercial fishers, said trade could now resume on the species impacted by the ban, which had the potential to impact up to $2 million of exports to the US. Chief executive Jeremy Helson said the result was a vote of confidence in New Zealand fisheries management.
“Mā ui dolphin are a taonga species and the controls in place to protect them are strict. On top of that, many of our commercial fishers have gone above and beyond, personally investing considerable effort into changing how they fish,” Helson said.
Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones and Agriculture and Trade Minister Todd Mcclay said in a statement the lifting of the temporary ban was “a win for common sense”.
Sea Shepherd has been approached for comment.
Jones said the claim by Sea Shepherd was “spurious”.
“Lifting the ban means seafood exporters will no longer have to provide a certificate of origin when sending seafood products to the United States,” Mcclay said.
The species affected were snapper, trevally, tarakihi, hoki, warehou, spotted dogfish, barracouta, mullet and gurnard.
Seafood New Zealand’s Helson said the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had recently found New Zealand’s management standards did meet US requirements, issuing a favourable comparability assessment in January.
“We were confident all along that our management systems in place to protect Mā ui dolphin were robust and comprehensive. We are pleased the US Government has agreed with that position and effectively endorsed the New Zealand management regime.”
In 2022, Sea Shepherd New Zealand and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society asked a Manhattan court to ban the trade, arguing there was a lack of action by the New Zealand Government of the time to protect the dolphins, found only in New Zealand waters.
Estimates at that time showed just 48 to 64 individual dolphins over the age of 1 remained.
The US Government and several US federal agencies were listed as defendants in the case. The New Zealand Government was listed as a defendant-intervenor, a non-party to the case which would provide information and support where required.
Jones said the court’s decision to remove the ban followed an assessment, undertaken by the US Government at the New Zealand Government’s request, which showed protections for Mā ui dolphins were comparable with, met and even exceeded the US standards under its Marine Mammal Protection Act.
— staff reporter
The hybrid and EV market is in the midst of great change in New Zealand. After two-and-a-half years of Government Clean Car Discount rebates for electrified cars (and even that programme was heavily revised in May 2023), we’re now back to a more even playing field for Ev-versus-hybrid/ice vehicles.
How much of an impact does that have on the buying public? It’s the perfect time to revisit the DRIVEN Car Guide Consumer Attitudes to Sustainability Study.
This is the third wave of the study, which includes 1000 consumer responses, gauging views on transport habits and buying intentions.
The questions asked for 2024 were similar to previous years to maintain consistency, but we adjusted some to take the change in feebate scheme into account and ensure as much focus went on to hybrid vehicles as plug-in vehicles.
We asked about lifestyle changes, current vehicles, sustainable transport habits, awareness of electrified vehicle terminology, which factors might promote or deter an eco-car purchase, what the influence of the feebate scheme has been, and where people go to research EV information.
In terms of lifestyle, there has been a 9 per cent decrease in those working from home to decrease their carbon footprint, although there has been a 6 per cent increase in recycling effort. Staying steady are other measures such as choosing more sustainable brands generally (31 per cent) and taking public transport (18 per cent).
The percentage of those choosing a more sustainable car has also not changed: 37 per cent of respondents said they have made this change.
One in three already own a hybrid or electric vehicle, with a decrease in the percentage of EVS (4 per cent) matched by an increase in hybrids. Four out of five intend to stay with their current main form of transport for the next five years.
Almost half of car buyers would consider a hybrid/ev vehicle as their next purchase (up 6 per cent to 48 per cent), and the number of respondents who already own one is up by 5 per cent compared to last year, to 22 per cent.
Fewer people say they are “intending” to use their car less, which is balanced out by an increase in those “considering” the change.
Awareness of electrified vehicle terminology remains high at 90 per cent of respondents, with the only significant drop being BEV (battery electric vehicle), down from 72 per cent to 68 per cent.
Top motivators for a hybrid/ev purchase are driving performance, environmental impact and the feel-good factor (all quite similar at 63-64 per cent), while the most significant deterrents are purchase cost (73 per cent), range (55 per cent) and recharging infrastructure (54 per cent).
The change to the Government rebate system now rates as the number one factor (41 per cent) in creating uncertainty around a hybrid/ev purchase, followed by resale value (38 per cent) and safety features (37 per cent).
But in terms of overall factors in making the switch to an EV, driving range per charge remains the number one concern for Kiwi motorists, followed by purchase cost; both ranked the same last year. However, number three has switched from lower running costs in 2023 to the charging set-up at home for 2024.
Nearly half of respondents (45 per cent) say a switch back to a feebate-style scheme would influence their next purchase. Also rating highly was provision of better charging infrastructure (41 per cent).
Other potential influences included subsidies for home charging set-up (16 per cent) and discounts on registration, WOF and tolls (12 per cent).