KEY POINTS:
New Zealand is among countries meeting next week to discuss a deal that would allow a new category of smaller-scale, coastal whaling in exchange for an agreement by Japan to stop scientific whaling.
A survey by the Nielsen polling company, ahead of the International Whaling Commission meeting in Chile, found that 92 per cent of New Zealanders oppose whaling and want the Government to fight any form of commercial whaling instead of brokering deals on new categories.
Bridget Vercoe, programmes manager for the World Society for the Protection of Animals, said strong opposition to commercial whaling was part of New Zealand's national identity.
"New Zealand has long prided itself as a leader in animal welfare. Scenes of bleeding, thrashing whales being dragged on to whaling ships horrifies most New Zealanders."
Life-sized photographs of South Pacific humpback whales, taken by American artist Bryant Austin, will be displayed at the meeting.
