Conservation Minister Chris Carter is defending New Zealand's signing of a WTO agreement which allows for trading of whale products.
The group Australians for Animals, says WTO tariff schedules, which both Australia and New Zealand have signed, allow the import and export of whale products despite the global ban on commercial whaling.
Sue Arnold from the Australians for Animals group says both countires have allowed the WTO schedules to override environmental treaties they have signed up to. She says ministers are not telling people Australia and New Zealand are "held hostage" by the WTO.
"When we sit down and weigh up which is more important - trade or whales - trade is going to win," she says.
But Carter says that despite the WTO agreement, trading in whale products in New Zealand is banned under two pieces of legislation. He says it is useful having those products on a schedule so Customs can require they be declared, therefore protecting and conserving whales.
Carter says he is a little surprised New Zealand has been criticised for doing something which is protecting whales.
