Toxins to blame for increased whale stranding?

Five days ago the Associated Press reported:

Rescuers have been unable to save the last surviving sperm whale from separate mass-strandings in Australia and New Zealand that have seen 91 whales die since the weekend. 

Though whale strandings are relatively common in both countries, the past few days have been particularly tough for conservation authorities. 

In all, 24 sperm whales and two minke whales died in a stranding on and around remote Ocean Beach in Tasmania. In an equally remote New Zealand location, the tip of Farewell Spit in the South Island, 65 pilot whales died.

...and on November 15, the Extinction Protocol reported:

Thirty-two pilot whales were confirmed dead today while the lives of 34 others hung in the balance after a mass stranding on tidal flats off New Zealand’s South Island. Department of Conservation’s area manager, Mr. Mason said the whales were stranded on the tidal flats at the tip of Farewell Spit in Golden Bay, located nearly three kilometers offshore at the northern end of South Island. 

“There’s really nothing we can do for them so we just have to hope that they manage to get out by themselves,” Mr. Mason added. The deaths of the mammals follow the stranding in Australia’s island state of Tasmania over the weekend. Twenty-three sperm whales, up to 18 meters long, died after they became stuck on Ocean Beach, near Strahan, on Saturday.

So what is the reason for the increased stranding's?



There's also been an increase in stranding's closer to the MV Rena disaster, which is known to have released over 350 tonnes of heavy crude oil into the ocean. 3150 Litres of Corexit 9500 was also applied throughout the cleanup operation and 23,240 kgs of Alkylsulphonic Acid was lost overboard.

23 October  2 Grey Beaked Whales dead, Mimiwhangata Beach & nearby bay, Northland. 

26 October  Two whales ~ a mother and juvenile, dead Whitianga Bay, Te Whanau a Apanui. 

28 October  One juvenile Greys beaked whale dead, Papamoa Beach ~ two adults re-floated. 

29 October  One juvenile pygmy sperm whale dead, Papamoa Beach. 

2   November  One whale dead (unconfirmed) Otarawaiwere Bay between Whakatane and Ohope. 

2 December One Sperm whale dead, Whangamata. 

Corexit spray paths - Rena oil spill

Birds

2004 dead oiled birds found so far, not counting those lost at sea.    

407 birds being cared for at the wildlife treatment and rehabilitation centre  

4 oiled little blue penguins   

336 clean little blue penguins  

1 clean fluttering shearwater, 3 pied shags

60 rare New Zealand dotterels pre-emptively caught and held.

Other Animals

40+  Seals dead on the East Coast. 

13    NZ Fur Seals reported dead as a result of "oil pollution" by Maritime NZ.

An international scandal

The Washington Post reports:

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand police Wednesday began searching four media organizations three days before national elections to seize evidence related to a recording of Prime Minister John Key that he says was illegally obtained. 

Police say the search warrants will be executed Wednesday and Thursday. They are seeking copies of the recorded conversation between Key and an ally, interviews with the cameraman who recorded it and footage from the scene. Warrants are being issued at two television networks, a newspaper and a radio broadcaster.

This is turning into an international scandal.

What the online polls are saying

Another broken promise

Prior to the last election in 2008, National promised that New Zealander's would Wave goodbye to higher taxes… however National increased GST to 15%. The broken promise ensured that socially negative statistics kept growing.

New Zealand is becoming a 3rd world country... and it’s 3rd world thinking that’s getting us there.

National's pledge card also said: Not your loved ones… meaning that New Zealander’s would stop leaving en mass. However we‘ve seen the first net migration loss in ten years and the increasing exodus has continued to grow under National over the last three years.

Here is what the current 2011 Statistics say:

The net loss of migrants to Australia was 32,700 in the August 2011 year, the highest since the March 2009 year (33,600). The latest figure resulted from 47,600 departures to Australia offset by 14,900 arrivals from Australia. In both directions, most migrants were New Zealand citizens.

...and here is what the stats from August 2008 said:

The net Permanent and long-term (PLT) migration gain of 4,900 in the year ended August 2008 is below the annual average of 11,800 recorded for the December years from 1990–2007. 

Some people have argued that the Christchurch earthquakes are the reason for the continued exodus… however only a small percentage of those leaving come from Christchurch. The vast majority of people are leaving because National has mismanaged the economy and things are getting worse here in New Zealand.

In fact we've just had New Zealand's first annual migration loss in 10 years:

There was a seasonally adjusted net loss of 640 for the month, from a downwardly revised loss of 680 in September, the biggest since February 2001, Statistics New Zealand said. 

For the year to Oct. 31, there was a net loss of 100 permanent and long term migrants, compared with gain of 12,610 in the previous October year. It was the first annual loss since the year ended September 2001.

The amount of people leaving increased in the year to September 2011. Statistics show (PDF) 1,100 more permanent departures of New Zealand citizens to Australia. It's the first annual net loss of migrants since 2001 (PDF). There was no net loss under Labour in 2008. The publication also states that:

Net migration away from New Zealand continues in 2011.

Australia’s immigration and tourism campaign slowed last year while New Zealand’s campaign has increased. This shows that despite an extensive advertising campaign in other countries, New Zealand is no longer as desirable a location to move to.

So despite spending millions more on advertising New Zealand around the world, National has totally failed to uphold their election pledge to reduce the amount of people permanently leaving.

The exodus to Australia is continuing because they earn more. Key also promised to close the gap.

The Australian median earnings of all full time workers last year was $54,750. Median earnings of all employees was $44,146 per year in 2010 with half of all Australian workers earning less than $44,146 per year.

Here is a wage comparison of Australia vs New Zealand:

Comparing directly with Australian wages and adjusting for purchasing power parity we see that in June 2009 the Australian average wage was 35% ahead of New Zealand. In June 2010 it was 41% ahead. This compares average weekly full time wages as best we can, but takes no account of the generous superannuation contributions (at 9% of income) that Australians receive from their employers. 

National has totally failed to uphold their promise.

National's attack on Green costings misleading

The Green Party was surprised to receive a lesson on fiscal responsibility from the National Government today - a Government that recently received a double credit downgrade in response to their management of the New Zealand economy.

"The Green Party has been totally upfront about what our priority issues are and how much they cost," Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Norman said today.

Stephen Joyce should consider an alternative career with Lehman Brothers.

"The Green Party has fully costed its election priorities and published them as part of its Green Jobs Initiative on September 21, 2011.

"Our priorities to create thousands of green jobs, to clean up our rivers and lakes, and to bring 100,000 children out of poverty will cost $4.124 billion over the next three years. To pay for this, we have identified new revenue streams and cost savings amounting to $7.910 billion.

"We recognise the significant fiscal constraints we're currently facing and have tailored our election priorities accordingly. We will pay down Government debt as quickly, if not more quickly than either National or Labour are proposing.

"National is deflecting attention away from its own poor record of fiscal management which has seen debt balloon to record levels, a double credit downgrade, and no meaningful economic plan to deal with a chronic current account deficit.

"The policies Steven Joyce has costed are not the priority areas that the Green Party will be seeking change on after this election. His costings are therefore disingenuous. With numbers like those, Stephen Joyce should consider an alternative career with Lehman Brothers."

Link to the Green Party's fiscal costings (PDF).

Teapot tape debacle

John Key meeting John Banks for a cup of tea in Epsom on the 11^th November 2011 was meant to be an endorsement of the Act party.

However the next day knowledge of the teapot tape emerged. John Key and Steven Joyce said it was ‘News of the World tactics’ when learning of the tapes existence.

           

Then on the 14^th November, John Key laid a Police complaint after he learns 3 News has the tape. He hints that the tape contains talk of replacing Brash and ’restructuring’ Act.     

The next day Key made a distasteful suicide comment. NOTW lawyer calls Key’s comments “cheap shot”.

           

Then on the 16^th, Key loses his cool and storms out of press conference.

John Banks’ has a disastrous interview with Gower.

Winston Peters dominates minor leaders’ debate and slams Key.

The next day families of suicide victims spoke out against Key’s comparison. He stupidly repeats it.

Police say they will execute search warrants on the media.

John Key then says it’s OK to waste Police time on his complaint because they have “spare time”.

Winston Peters then hints at more of the tape’s contents. Key refuses to engage with question of whether he talked about winning “unbridled power.”

           

On the 18^th November, Police refute Key’s statement about lazy cops.

Victims of crime then spoke out against John Keys comments.

The International Federation of Journalists condemns Key and a court date is set to determine whether the conversation was private.

Bradley Ambrose, the cameraman at the centre of the controversy, is demanding an apology from John Key or he’ll take the PM to court for defamation. Yesterday, John Key refused to apologize.

A court date has been set for this Tuesday to see whether the tape is indeed private.