Wellington, March 8 NZPA - New Zealand International Whaling Commission (IWC) representative Sir Geoffrey Palmer has defended a new proposal on commercial whaling after harsh criticism from anti-whaling groups.

Wellington, Feb 15 NZPA - Japanese whalers have detained the skipper of the stricken Ady Gil on board their vessel today, anti-whaling boat Sea Shepherd captain Paul Watson says.

At 0629 Hours (Perth Time), New Zealand Captain Pete Bethune of the recently sunk Sea Shepherd vessel Ady Gil breached the Japanese government security ship Shonan Maru 2 and successfully boarded the vessel under cover of darkness.

Wellington, Feb 13 NZPA - Whaling protesters aboard the Sea Shepherd have refuted allegations from their Japanese adversaries that they were injured when hit by flying acid during a southern ocean clash, with the protesters claiming the crew members pepper-prayed themselves by mistake.

Wellington, Feb 6 NZPA - A Japanese harpoon ship rammed the anti-whaling vessel Bob Parker in Australian Antarctic Territory this afternoon, its owner Sea Shepherd said tonight.

By Sarah McDougall of NZPA

Wellington, Jan 9 NZPA - New Zealand police have been asked to arrest the captain of the one of the Japanese whaling fleet that collided with the anti-whaling protest vessel Ady Gil in Antarctic waters.

Foodstuffs distribution centre staff will protest at two Pak n Save and one New World supermarket in Christchurch beginning at 1.30 pm on Saturday.

The last nail in the coffin of an iconic company has been driven home with today's announcement that Lane Walker Rudkin will lay off its remaining staff at it's Christchurch manufacturing operation (all other LWR current operations including the Auckland design and textile business will continue