The Government has announced that the Fisheries Amendment Bill will not proceed further until after this year’s election. Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has acknowledged the legislation requires further “panel beating” after attracting significant criticism from across the fishing sector, environmental organisations and the wider public. Several controversial proposals had already been amended or withdrawn, while others remain under review.
This delay is more than a change to the parliamentary timetable. It demonstrates that public consultation can influence legislation when people take the time to participate. Thousands of submissions were lodged on the Bill, raising concerns about a range of proposals affecting fisheries management, transparency and public confidence. Recreational fishers, including many NZFFA members, were among those who made their views known.
Importantly, the Bill has not been abandoned. It has been delayed to allow further consideration, and several significant proposals remain unresolved. These include provisions affecting judicial review timeframes and restrictions on the public release of onboard camera footage. The additional time provides an opportunity for these issues to be examined more carefully before any legislation proceeds.
New Zealand’s fisheries are a public resource, shared by commercial, recreational and customary fishers, as well as all New Zealanders who value healthy marine ecosystems. Good fisheries legislation should reflect that shared ownership. Laws that will shape our fisheries for decades deserve careful scrutiny, broad consultation and public confidence rather than unnecessary haste.
For NZFFA, there is another important lesson. Too often people wonder whether making a submission is worth the effort. While no single organisation or individual can claim responsibility for the Government’s decision, this delay demonstrates that widespread, well-reasoned public participation can influence the legislative process. Governments may not always agree with every submission, but they do take notice when concerns are evidence-based and consistently expressed.
What happens next is uncertain. With the Bill now delayed until after the election, its future will depend on the composition of the next Parliament and the priorities of the Government that emerges. The legislation may proceed largely unchanged, it may be substantially revised, or it may not proceed at all. Whatever the outcome, this episode serves as a reminder that constructive public engagement remains one of the most effective ways New Zealanders can help shape the future of our fisheries.
The delay still smells of dirty tricks. Not sure who is a greater challenge to democracy Jones or Seymour.