Newsletter December 2025

Update From Chief Executive Corina Jordan

Welcome to this month's Fish & Game update. I hope you are getting out on the water.

You may have seen the Government recently announced Resource Management changes. These represent a significant change to natural resource management in New Zealand and will change how Fish & Game works in this space.

Pictured above: Corina with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Minister for Hunting and Fishing James Meager and Richie Cosgrove at the Sika Show in Hamilton.

There are a number of positive outcomes in the reforms as well as areas we want to take a closer look at. We will be talking to you, our licence holders, our stakeholders and Ministers about ensuring that the values and interests of anglers and hunters are recognised.

There are two wins in the reforms that we advocated for. Water Conservation Orders are staying and new ones can be created. That's great news. We also secured changes to make it easier for wetlands to be created or enhanced, removing the often time consuming and costly consent processes.

Two areas of concern are access and environmental limits, which provide for our salmonid fisheries. Read the item below for more details. 

The new Arms Bill has also just landed. A link to Minister Nicole McKee’s media release including a link to the bill is available here. We are working through the details of the bill and will be sharing our analysis and advice with you in the New Year. There will be a six-month consultation period.

And of course, Minister for Hunting and Fishing James Meager is reforming Fish & Game and expects to introduce the Bill in 2026. We are working on background information, so we are prepared for when the bill goes to the select committee for consideration.

Our focus remains on ensuring that final legislation supports Fish & Game as a strong, modern and professional statutory organisation, ensuring the sustainable management of our sports fish and game birds and meeting the aspirations of our anglers and hunters. These reforms streamline processes and work where it makes sense but retain local region expertise for managing fisheries and game birds in their areas.

These developments are significant and weighty and do take up a good deal of my time. However, I love to get out and about to connect with our community which re-energising me for when I get back to my desk.

One of these moments was attending the Sika Show in Hamilton last month which showed a united sector in strong heart, looking to the future. 

Last month, we hosted our second Parliamentary Fishing Trip, welcoming MPs and their families to St Arnaud for a weekend of fishing, conservation activities and connection with nature.

Building on last year's success at Lake Hawea, this year's Nelson-Marlborough event brought together parliamentarians from across the political spectrum. Guests experienced river, lake and boat fishing tailored to varying skill levels, followed by a communal dinner featuring their catch of the day.

The weekend concluded with planting kowhai trees at the Waimea Park Educational Fishery, giving MPs hands-on involvement in habitat restoration.

The Nelson-Marlborough team, National Office and other regions' staff, local guides and special guests including Dame Lynda Topp ensured expert support throughout. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, demonstrating Fish & Game's ability to build understanding of our organisation's value to New Zealand.

And lastly it was a pleasure to be at the opening of Otago Fish & Game Council's new office in Mosgiel. There's an item in this newsletter.

Otago councillor Vicky May with Corina Jordan

 

Resource management changes

Resource Management reform: what it means for you

The Government is replacing the Resource Management Act with two new bills: a Planning Bill to enable development and regulate land use, and a Natural Environment Bill to protect nature and encourage efficient use of land and resources.

What's changing?

The Government will replace the Resource Management Act with:

• Planning Bill - to enable development and regulate land use. See this site for more information.
• Natural Environment Bill - to protect nature and encourage efficient use of land and resources. See this site for more information.

The good news

Water Conservation Orders retained The 16 Water Conservation Orders protecting nationally significant water bodies will continue and more can be created.

Easier to create wetlands Proposed national standards could streamline wetland construction, potentially allowing creation without resource consent. This will benefit game bird habitat. This is something Fish & Game has been advocating for years.

Clearer, simpler planning system Reducing red tape and bureaucracy. Moving from over 100 plans to 17 combined plans will be more efficient.

Our concerns

While we welcome these positives, Fish & Game has concerns about some parts of the reforms:

Your values and interests The Resource Management Act specifically required consideration of trout and salmon habitat, amenity values and recreational opportunities. These provisions appear to have been removed or diluted.

Access to waterways The RMA required councils to maintain and enhance public access. The Planning Bill only requires councils to maintain access, removing the obligation to improve it.

Environmental safeguards While an environmental limits framework is retained, we'll be watching closely to ensure it provides robust protections for our fisheries.

What Fish & Game is doing

We'll be working hard to ensure your values and interests are recognised as this legislation progresses through Parliament. Our advocacy will focus on three key areas:

1. Recognition of hunters' and anglers' values - ensuring the legislation properly considers trout and salmon habitat, game bird habitat, amenity values and recreational opportunities
2. Access to waterways - strengthening provisions to maintain and enhance public access to lakes, rivers and the coast
3. Habitat protections - securing robust environmental safeguards for the freshwater habitats our species rely on

We need your help

Your voice matters in this process. We'll be working with you on advocacy efforts as the bills progress through Parliament. Look out for updates on how you can contribute.

Our vision is a New Zealand where freshwater habitats and species flourish, hunting and fishing traditions thrive, and all Kiwis enjoy access to sustainable wild fish and game resources. We'll be working to ensure these reforms support that vision - and we need your support to make it happen.