Fish & Game reforms to modernise organisation

Reforms have been announced which will modernise and strengthen Fish & Game New Zealand, improve the national management of hunting and fishing resources and advocacy, while maintaining local control over local fishing and hunting rules.

The reforms will make several key changes, including:

• Clarifying the roles and responsibilities so that regional Fish & Game councils focus on delivering hunting and fishing opportunities on the ground, with the New Zealand Council responsible for administrative tasks and policies.

• Shifting to a nationalised fee collection system to reduce double handling of licence fees and ensuring funding follows the demand on the resource.

• Making more licence holders eligible to vote and stand in Fish & Game elections and requiring councillors to comply with professional standards.

• Requiring Fish & Game councils to better consider the interests of other stakeholders such as farmers and the aviation sector in decision-making.

• Requiring a national policy around advocacy and restricting court proceedings to within that policy.