Aust, NZ not giving up anti-whaling action 

Both New Zealand and Australia deny they have given up on the possibility of legal action to stop Japanese whaling.

Reports from Australia suggested that because New Zealand had abandoned court action, Australia would as well.

But New Zealand Conservation Minister Steve Chadwick has now issued a statement that New Zealand's position has not changed.

She says there have been obstacles to legal action in the past.

But the government is still open minded about the possibility of taking a case against Japanese whaling at some time in the future, should diplomatic efforts fail to resolve the problem.

And Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, who is on two-day visit to Tokyo, insists international legal action remains an option among Australia's strategies to get Japan to stop the annual cull.

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