As expected, Pete Bethune has been arrested after arriving in Japan aboard the Japanese whaling boat he has been held captive on since February 15th.
Pete Bethune is charged with piracy for climbing on board the Shonan Maru 2 after it collided with and ultimately destroyed the Ady Gil in the Southern Ocean. If convicted he could face imprisonment of up to three years. Understandably, his wife is concerned that Pete will be made an example of by the Japanese Government. She and Pete (who live in Murray McCully’s electorate of East Coast Bays) have every right to look to their local MP for assistance and support.
But don’t hold your breath. McCully says NZ will provide “consular support”, but surely his constituents in East Coast Bays can expect a little more than that?
It’s getting nasty in Japan. Pro-whaling activists yesterday protested outside the New Zealand embassy waving cans of whale meat, demanding the New Zealand Government punishes the Sea Shepherd activists, including Pete Bethune. And our government has been busy this week appeasing the Japanese government and the whale-killers.
But McCully has a job to do in East Coast Bays as well as on the international stage.
It’s time he gave Pete’s wife a call and did his job as a local MP.
@Wayne – the Russian coast guard did what they had to do – with guns – he he he
but BETHUNE’s the nutjob? 
I would’ve liked to hear from the media that the poor b*****d is okay, but nothing on how he is
@LesterPK – glad Foreign Affairs has been in touch with Sharyn, but I don’t get how you think it is Labour’s fault that the media were interested in talking with her. Where are the press releases or public comment from Labour? Oh, that’s right, there are none.
@Sideoiler – lighten up – I like pirates and you’re getting pedantic now.
@Waterboy – The black hood is a worrying sign.
@pentwig – “manical” eco terrorist?
@ Darien There is a big difference between piracy and trespassing, nothing to do with being pedantic, I guess trespassing is not as good a sound bite,and less likely to enrage the mob.
@Sideoiler – what mob? What are you talking about?
The anti whaling, ecoterrorist anti globalisation global warming mob Darien.
Darien
Yes maniacal!! (spelling corrected)
Maybe your IT people can put in an edit feature. Please.
As an aside do you really support eco terrorism?
Better than ecowhimpism!
And no I don’t think Pete’s an ecoterroist!
@pentwig – I hardly think this is “terrorism” – it seems to me all the cards (and the power) are with the Japanese at the moment. However, I am aware that many things would never have changed in society and the world had some people not been prepared to do some things that stretched the boundaries of the established law and thinking of the time – think Rainbow Warrior and the 1981 Springbok Tour – and there’s much, much more in NZ history. We can always play it safe and do nothing I suppose, but I hope there will always be people who are prepared to stand up for what they believe in.
He will be left high and dry. Our govt will do a cave in, in the hopes of not repeating the ‘freeze’ out other countries gave us during the rainbow warrior incident.
What I would do if I was our govt is do a quiet deal on the side – because while Pete is in the wrong (trespass at best – not piracy)so is the Japanese boat – I would be saying let Pete leave and we won’t press charges against your guys for ramming our kiwis boat, as that amounts to attempted murder. Somewhat worse an offense than trespass I would have thought. Then tell the media for both countries that the govts had reached a compromise, as is appropriate in a 21st century world.
That won’t happen tho – too easy and it would involve compromise and a bit of humble pie on both sides.
@Paul
You don’t get it buddy.
Bethune positioned his vessel so it would be rammed!
He is the one who should be charged for (your words) attempted murder of his crew and pax.
“Bethune positioned his vessel so it would be rammed!” – I doubt it he was just trying to stop the whaling. He wouldn’t want his little boat rammed.
S pud – I think you’re exhibiting one of the dangerous traits of those on the extremes of any party, and finding yourself in a position where you’re working hard to defend the indefensible. Unfortunately (and I speak from personal experience here) all you achieve is to harden popular opinion against you.
It’s clear that Bethune is a self publicist who has engaged in behaviour which was dangerous to both himself and others in pursuit of his (obviously strongly held) beliefs.
If I disagreed with meat eaters and tried to stop a cattle truck reaching the slaughter house by constantly veering in front of it, and as a consequence ended up getting T-Boned by the truck, I’d have only myself to blame. And society would tell me so in no uncertain terms.
If I then tried to do a citizen’s arrest on the driver for hitting me I think most people would think I was a nutter.
The only difference here is that Bethune was on the high seas when he committed his act of gross irresponsibility.
@George – I’m not in m oderation so you don’t need to put a gap in my name.
LOL
I really don’t think I’m on the extreme end of anything – but I’ll cut you some slack since you haven’t met me. 
“finding yourself in a position where you’re working hard to defend the indefensible.” – No, I genuinely disagree with a lot of the stuff being written on this thread. There’s nothing more to it than that.
“If I disagreed with meat eaters and tried to stop a cattle truck (which was carrying and hunting endangered species in a declared sancturary) reaching the slaughter house by constantly veering in front of it, and as a consequence ended up getting T-Boned by the truck, I’d have only myself to blame. And society would tell me so in no uncertain terms.” (Society would expect you to take the consequences and many would support your standing up for the sanctuary because even the slaughter house has admitted they only pretend to be a scientific lab before feeding the masses). It would also expect that the Government might intervene to make sure the slaughterhouse treated you well while waiting to determine if you were innocent or guilty
Fair enough Spud! I didn’t realise you were in rehab!
@Pentwig – “You don’t get it buddy.
Bethune positioned his vessel so it would be rammed!”
Rubbish. I don’t think he did place his vehicle to be rammed – I have seen the footage, read heaps about it and while I declare I am no expert in maritime law, It is my opinion that he did not go out to be rammed and there has been no compelling evidence (except an awful lot of supposition) to the contrary. I appreciate there are those who disagree – its a democracy and I am happy for people to have a different thought about it – but don’t insult me with saying I don’t get it – I, like you, just see it differently. Telling me I don’t get it, without irrefutable evidence to the contrary, is not going to sway my opinion.
This from John Key
“Peter Bethune is obviously a person who cares deeply about what he’s doing, he’s also a person who made it quite clear when he got on board that boat that he didn’t want to be taken off, he did want to be taken to Japan. So clearly he has thought all this through and has thought the exposure that he will get for this warrants his activities.”
Other than consular support there was little the Government could do, Mr Key said.
so why should the taxpayer be helping out his wife, she obviously was in the loop on this. and if she isn’t, the Mr Bethune is not the type of husband and father we need in New Zealand.
“Mr Bethune is not the type of husband and father we need in New Zealand.”
Really, it’s come to that? Stop talking about him like he is a serial killer. The guy didn’t kill anyone. He didn’t hurt anyone. He stood up for a species that cannot stand up for itself. He defended a victim. We need him here. I want him here.
Key is fence sitting – throwing up his hands. Let’s get real about the bottom line issue – the government should be supporting a non-whaling position. It isn’t.
Tigger – but the government is supporting a postion where fewer whales could be killed in reality.
Too often we ignore the option to do something because we can’t do everything.
I suggest that part of the reason for JK’s popularity is his recognition of the fact that you can achieve more in the real world if you’re flexible and stop seeing things as black and white.
It’s better to be effective in making the shade of grey lighter than to argue, with little hope of success, for pure whiteness whilst the reality remains darkest black.
And also I don’t think that you should have quoted from “in summation” on the suitability of Mr B as a husband/father without including “in sum”‘s caveat. He didn’t declare that the guy wasn’t unsuitable. He said that if he was doing this sort of thing without keeping his family in the loop he was. The two things are entirely different.
tigger, why did you skip over the first part of that sentence of mine? can you not face the following assertation of your hero?
if he didn’t tell his wife, he is a deadbeat dad and we have enough of them here anyway.
only you are hyping him up to serial killer status.
What I find odd is the concept of making a ‘citizens arrest’.
First, there is no such thing in NZ law. Try it and you’re likely to be arrested yourself.
Secondly, if Bethune is on a Japanese vessel in international waters, is he subject to Japanese law, international law, or NZ law (as a NZ citizen)?
George
At least you would have Dariens support as an eco terrorist!
-”However, I am aware that many things would never have changed in society and the world had some people not been prepared to do some things that stretched the boundaries of the established law and thinking of the time – “
@Labrat. I believe its maritime law, and yes there are protections for those making citizens arrests in New Zealand see the Crimes Act 1961.
@George, John Key isnt flexible, he often lies then gets caught then changes his story – perhaps you are more comfortable with the term flip flop? .
In regards to your own ” and white point of view” i.e. let it be legal, we will save heaps. How can you jump on that National Party slogan without delving deeper? If you dig around you will find that there is evidence to suggest that as soon as Japan begins Whaling legally, Korea is poised to join in and start up its Whaling again. Throughout Asia, the Whale meat will be served LEGALLY in restarants – the demand will rise dramatically…
Salsy, can you point me in the direction of that info about Korea? Thanks
@Tracey – I am not sure where Salsy found their info but this link will explain further what S Korea could be intending to do (Reuters link)http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLB933270
Furthermore, I believe the US are signalling a ‘tougher stance’ on whaling – so it would seem that our govt is behind the 8 ball – again.
And just to clarify this issue – again – the whales being slaughtered are in an area that the IWC declared a sanctuary for whales in 1994 – so as far as I (and those who oppose the ‘scientific’ murder of whales) are concerned, Pete is doing the right thing by making a stand against the whalers.
Oh – and they are not just killing the abundant minke whales – they are killing at least 5 different species – some endangered – just google it to find out more.
Thanks @Paul
Thanks guys. To my shame I had not given a thought to the possibility of other nations jumping in once it was commercially ok to whale again. This aspect of the new idea, has it been canvassed by G Palmer, do you know?
Paul: can you be more specific? Exactly what whales are the Japanese taking that are endangered? More importantly what whale species are they taking on an unsustainable basis.
I have looked and can’t find. Maybe I’m not that adept on the internet. You tell us.
As for the sanctuary – it only applies to commercial whaling, not scientific whaling.
And yes the Japanese may be (or may not be) exploiting a loophole. If they are it is only because countries like Australia, and formerly New Zealand have stonewalled any attempt at the IWC to reintroduce sustainable whaling.
The IWC was supposed to be about managing whale stock, not against whaling per se.
So the Japanese have resorted to a loophole. But a loophole is a loophole, and taking advantage of the loophole means one avoids doing anything illegal. Even if the science is dodgy science, is bad science (it could well be good science the Japanese are doing – I don’t know), the Japanese are using the law to their advantage. And I say good on them.
And personally I find watching the harpooning of a whale – man taking on nature, far more fascinating and satisfying than whale watching. I would love to be on a whaling ship, take part in a whale hunt. I would even love to try my hand at harpooning a whale myself.
The idea that there is something terrible about a species disappearing is something new.
In fact there are many many animals which have become extinct over the past several hundred years, especially from the time of industrialization.
We miss none of them today. I for one am not overly exercised over the demise of the dodo, or the fact that I can’t see a live moa anymore, nor are Europeans bemoan the fact that the Gray whale no longer exists in the North Atlantic, nor Englishmen the fact there are no more wild bears left in England.
If suddenly all whales disappeared tomorrow, I’m sure that only perhaps 1% of the world’s population would give a toss, and in a months time, perhaps only 0.1% of the world’s population would give a toss.
Our government should be concentrating on jobs and the economy – on the well being of human beings, not wild animals thousands of miles away, well outside of our legal jurisdiction.
And if whales are so important to the ecosystem, why then, since their current numbers are a fraction of their original populations of say 100 years ago, do we not see any sort of ecological catastrophe that can be attributed to this massive decrease?
@Tracey – DNA testing of whale meat sold in restuarants in Japan show the extent of illegal whaling thats going on. This testing allows undercover research to not only indentify the species, but the how many individual whales are on the market at a time…
“DNA evidence has shown that in addition to Japan’s legal “scientific” catch of minke, bryde’s, sperm and sei whale, the meat from some protected [endangered] whales such as humpback and fin has also turned up at Japanese stores”
There are is another point worth mentioning. One is that both whale and dolphin meat is considered highly toxic.
“Japanese and American toxicologists have also analyzed whale and dolphin meat and found extremely high levels of heavy metals (such as mercury) and toxic chemicals (such as dioxin and PCBs)–high enough to pose a serious health threat merely by eating a few ounces of blubber (Chadwick 2001). A study in the Faroe Islands north of Scotland found brain and heart damage in children whose mothers had eaten whale meat (Chadwick 2001). ”
One begins to wonder whether the Japanese are are killing whales, or will the whales infact kill the Japanese?
Interesting stuff salsy.
Strange, with all their extensive research on whales the Japanese have never been able to come up with humane way to kill whales.
Wayne – what about the prospect of humans becoming extinct, which is the logical consequence of your attitude that the whole earth’s resources are there to plunder, without a thought that they exist as part of holistic ecosystems? Could happen in a hundred years or so the way we are going? Bother you?
I agree with that dude on Q&A we would be prostituting our values to allow those poachers to do commercial whaling in a sanctuary!
I see the Sea Shepherd organisation has banned Bethune from its boats and organisation. Apparently they decided he had broken their rules with the weapons he had smuggled on board.
I dont have any sympathy for Bethune or his actions but gee you would think your “mates” would stick by you for a little longer.
Poor Pete,
, the report also said that the Sea Shepherd already knew about the arrows. It showed a clip, the dude wanted to use them to poison already killed whales to make them unusable by the poachers 
Poor guy 
Hes an idiot it was the best news ive heard all day.
Although more good news!(as steve Maharey used to say)in the economic indicators released today that show a continuing slow but steady climb out of the recession yay!
Juliana don’t celebrate too hard before energy prices and every day consumables rocket up in price over the next 4-5 months smothering the ‘greenshoots’ of economic recovery.
And then there is the coming Euro-shock…
People will believe that there is a real recovery on once unemployment dips signifcantly.
I dont doubt prices are on the way up, but there is also positive news coming out every day that leavens the chicken little forecasts somewhat.
I am concerned at the euro economies tho and of course that will effect us. And the savage cuts that are being done there are totally needed, but its the average person, as always that will bear the brunt of it all.
But in the meantime we are cushioned by our mates across the Tasman who in turn are propped up the Chinese. Lets hope they keep buying ozzie minerals, for all our sakes.
At least he was trying to do the right thing!
I’m just wondering why this Govt would not officially step in for Pete Bethune but the PM has said he will mention the “plight” of a NZer in a Chinese jail who is getting aggravated asthma from his smoking inmate mates? There’s even talk of asking the Chinese to let him serve his time in NZ… at a cost to the NZ taxpayer I assume? Just wondering how two such different stances can be taken so close together? OR doe sit mean the Govt will lobby to get Pete imprisoned here if he is sentenced to jail tomorrow?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10658302
Mr Key was happy to say publicly that he will see what he can do to help a convicted prisoner who is getting aggravated asthma from exposure to smoking prisoners, BUT he and McCully were not prepared to speak up for Bethune. The point is, Mr key is being churlish about Bethune being ungrateful. I bet he is very grateful for the backroom diplomatic help, it was the front door diplomacy and leadership which was missing and Key is using smoke and mirros again to purposely muddy the waters.
Just what does Mr Key stand for, are their key principles he will stand by, or is everything measured by the bottom line? he remembers throwing rice at the Rocky Horror Picture Show (or so he says) but cant recall what his thoughts were ont eh Springbok Tour! Is he really a Hollow Man”
Yes, Key and McCully stay out of all overseas criminal matters, as of course. key would never interfere or speak for a criminal overseas…
“New Zealand consular staff in China will meet New Zealand businessman Danny Cancian tomorrow to discuss the concerns over his treatment in a Chinese prison but no immediate relief is on the horizon.
Cancian, who suffers from asthma but has to share a cell with smokers, is 18 months into a five-year jail sentence for killing a man after a fight at a south China restaurant in 2008.
Key, who left China yesterday, previously said he would raise the issue with New Zealand’s ambassador while he was in the country.
Today, Key told reporters there would be another meeting between embassy staff and officials tomorrow.
“I think it’s fair to say from a consular level we’ve been providing a lot of support.”
The meeting tomorrow would be the 13th.
“We’re going to try and work our way through and see if there’s another solution. It’s not easy to find a non-smoking prison in China.”
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It was also important Cancian was aware of the consequences of moving prisons, such as loosing credits awarded for good behaviour, Key said.
Cancian’s family had hoped Key would be able to get results.
“I don’t think it’s at a significant enough level for me to take that up on a one-on-one basis with the premier of China,” Key said.
“The fact that a prisoner wants to move from a smoking cell to a non-smoking cell, someone that got a five-year sentence for killing someone in a bar fight, probably isn’t at the level where we would take it up directly with the premier.”
Cancian was attacked in a south China restaurant while having dinner in 2008 and while his attackers admitted starting the fight, the judge ruled again him.
His family have said his health was extremely poor and he had to go to hospital twice a month for treatment for his asthma.”
That’s amny more words on this fellow than he gave on Bethune, who stands for a principle shared by many NZers.