Advocacy and New Zealand Fish & Game Council (NZC)

Our financial year concluded at the end of August, providing an opportunity to reflect on the advocacy work NZC has undertaken during this period. From national policy submissions to resource management cases, our advocacy efforts have been wide-ranging and strategic, representing licence holders' interests while working to conserve and enhance habitat for the species we manage.

NZC's Advocacy Functions

The Conservation Act lists the functions[1] of NZC, including the requirement to develop national policies to carry out its functions for sports fish and game. Importantly NZC is tasked to advocate generally and in any statutory planning process in the interests of the New Zealand Fish and Game Council.

Powers of NZC[2] explicitly provide that NZC shall be entitled to appear before courts and tribunals in New Zealand and be heard on matters affecting or relating to the Council’s functions.

Submissions during the year

NZC files submissions on the Fish and Game website: Corporate documents - Fish & Game

In the year, NZC submissions ranged across changes to outdoor education in schools, conservation general policy, national direction, Herds of Special Interest support,  Overseas Investment Act amendments, Wastewater Treatment Plant Standards, Conservation Law reform and Biosecurity Act Amendments, Resource Management Act and Arms Act amendments.

This national advocacy is wide-reaching, representing licence holders’ interests and endeavours to conserve and enhance the habitat of the species that we manage.

Resource Management pool Fund

NZC manages a pool fund for resource management cases. This fund has been used to fund position papers on our “Wai Good Policy” page, becoming party to appeals on consents, participation in regional and national policy processes, and reconsent infrastructure that we manage.

Our preference is to negotiate good outcomes for the species that we manage through non-court processes.  However, when this hasn’t been possible, we’ve had to pursue cases.

This fund is limited and has been topped up by $100,000 in each of the last two financial years. While this sounds substantial, the reality is we must choose very carefully the cases which we get involved in.

Fast Track Applications

NZC and relevant regions have submitted on relevant fast track proposals within the prescribed 20 working days. We have identified particular consents of interest and aim to collaborate with other groups who share our views on those.

Access

We advocate at a regional and national level for access and the ability to take firearms and dogs to game bird hunting sites. We have been identifying access that has become estranged and written background information for an Access Strategy.

Research that Assists our Advocacy Work

Fish & Game New Zealand commissioned NZIER to write an independent report regarding the economic contribution of Fish & Game licence holders. The report highlights the significant positive impact of freshwater angling on physical and mental wellbeing.

Domestic and international licence holders spend between $113 million and $139 million annually on angling trips. This spending contributes $66 million-$81 million to New Zealand’s GDP and supports up to 1,168 jobs across the country.

Future Work

Key work for NZC over the summer will be the Fish and Game Bill and Resource Management Reform submission writing and select committee processes.

The Fish and Game Bill proposes changes to how we work and could involve changes to what we can do or how we prioritise our work. We will provide updates on our website as we receive them: Fish & Game Reforms - Fish & Game

Our advocacy continues to be a key part of our work, ensuring the habitat of the species we manage can be maintained (and enhanced) for existing and future anglers and game bird hunters.  We also work hard to maintain access and ensure that people can get out in the wild with their dogs, guns and fishing rods.

 

 

[1] Section 26C Functions of NZC in the Conservation Act

[2] Section 26F (3) Powers of NZC in the Conservation Act