I called Minister of Conservation Nick Smith

Long Distance Call for Maui's Dolphins ...

Today I talked to New Zealand's Minister of Conservation's private secretary, Shanna, on the phone. I asked if Nick Smith cared about saving the Maui's dolphins. You can call him too. Let him know how you feel or ask him questions about why he's not protecting Maui's dolphins. His number is: +64-4-817 6805

Here is how it went:

"I'm Calista, I just turned 8 years old, and I live in Ohio... I wanted to ask a few questions... Does he care about saving the Maui's Dolphins?"
"Yes, yes he does."

"What about the IWC?"
"... they've done exactly what the scientistific advice has been which was last year that they extend the set net ban." (This isn't true though! Because they aren't taking the advice from the IWC - a big group of scientists and experts.)

"But what about the IWC and all those scientists?"
"Yeah, well the minister's just received the advice from the IWC so... he'll be considering that."

"Well Liz Slooten has a lot of information. Why don't you just ask her? She already has a lot of information.... Why don't you use Liz Slooten's research and expand the fishing sanctuary?"
That's not up to me, that's up to the Minister, and I can't really speak on his behalf...

What I Learned

I watched some videos before I called. One was where PM John Key called scientists research about the Maui's dolphins a bunch of "mumbo jumbo." Video here. Another video I watched was with Jane Goodall and she was not happy that the NZ government was letting exploration in where the Maui's dolphins live. Video here. Another video I watched was Leonardo DiCaprio pledging $7 million dollars for the Oceans. Video here.

I learned a lot today. There are good people in the world really trying to help make things better. I want to be one of them. It makes me sad when the New Zealand government doesn't listen and doesn't answer the questions about the Maui's Dolphins -- they are dying and the government doesn't think they are important enough. Even though a huge group of scientists called the IWC Scientific Committee is telling New Zealand to helpt he dolphins and stop allowing them to die!

After watching the videos, I was ready to call Nick Smith. I wrote a script before I called so I knew what to say if I got nervous. At the end I didn't use it because I don't understand why Liz Slooten (Her blog here. She's an expert!) isn't someone their government listens to. She already knows exactly what needs to be done.

I am sad because Shanna from the Minister's office didn't tell me the truth, when she said that "they've done exactly what the scientific advice has been" from the IWC last year. My friend Barbara (Dr Barbara Maas from NABU International) was there and told me that the IWC experts wanted New Zealand to protect all the dolphins' habitat, not just a little bit. This year the scientists told New Zealand again to protect the dolphins properly.

Create a larger Maui Dolphin sanctuary that saves them from dying from fishing nets, oil drilling.

Today, I learned that adults make things more complicated than they need to be! God created the ocean to be enjoyed not destroyed!

Can you join me and help me fight to save the Maui dolphins? They don't have a voice. But we do!