“..The Government is permitting petrol and mining exploration in marine mammal sanctuaries – home to rare dolphins, whales and seals.
Six sanctuaries around New Zealand’s coastline are meant to provide a permanent refuge for marine mammals in fisheries waters.
But Green Party MP Gareth Hughes has branded them “sham sanctuaries” as oil companies have been granted 10 permits in four of the protected areas.
He said the exploration would threaten rare sea creatures such as the endangered maui’s and hector’s dolphin, as well as sea lions, fur seals and southern right whales.
“What we are seeing is a sham protection.
“Mineral exploitation will be able to happen where we are supposed to be protecting threatened animals.”..”
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