Press release- NZFFA
The Government has replaced the Resource Management Act (RMA) with two new laws Natural Environment Bill and Planning Bill which the NZ Federation of Freshwater Anglers say weakens environmental protection.
Federation spokesman Jason Foord said the RMA specifically protected rivers by recognising the habitat of trout and salmon as a key indicator species for freshwater health.
“It’s a parallel to the canary in the coal-mine concept,” he said. “If the needs of trout and salmon are met, then that sets a benchmark of quality for aquatic health which then benefits indigenous fish, invertebrates and public recreation such as swimming, canoeing and others.”
Minister for RMA Reform Chris Bishop whose electorate is in Lower Hutt said in welcoming the RMA replacement laws that they would “deliver effectively for the environment”. However under the original Resource Management Act, the Hutt River over some three decades in the minister’s electorate had been cleaned up and was now a rapidly restored brown trout fishery and a popular public swimming and recreation area.
Jason Foord said Minister Chris Bishop’s track record as co-promoter with Resource Minister Shane Jones for the Fast Track Approval Act did not inspire confidence.
“Perhaps he could explain to his electorate why he sees the Hutt River trout fishery as of lesser importance than before? The point is by specifying trout and salmon populations, it sets a bench mark for life-supporting capacity. Now it’s vague and nebulous and frankly making the environmental future fragile especially in the light of Fast Track type laws,” said Jason Foord.
In addition the new laws fail to safeguard and enhance public access which is vital for not just the angling public but other outdoor recreationalists such as swimming, picnicking, boating and others, he said.
Ministers Bishop and Jones have one agenda-exploitation and they don’t care if its public property.
The problem is the economic system of the worshipping of the GDP God. Where has it got NZ since it was introduced dictatorially by the 4th Labour government promoted by its Minister of Finance Roger Douglas, a neo-liberal zealot.
I’ll tell you where it’s got NZ – $185 billion in debt and servicing that debt without paying anything of the principal, (interest repayments) costs NZ $10 billion a year.
But then politicians wanting to pay off that debt want to exploit anything and everything of public resources.
That’s the thinking of the likes of Jones and Bishop. They are dangerous dozos lacking lateral vision because they’ll never pay that massive debt off.
Until they give up the neo-liberal economic policy, they’ll never make headway.
There is another way an economic system that respect economic, people and environmental values equally.
Go and read the book “Doughnut Economics.”
The politicians concerned should note that 178,000 people (most are voters) buy a Fish and Game licence each year and so are in the outdoors noticing the consequences of poor guardianship of our environment.
Tim Neville has hit on the issue of potential political power that the fishing public can wield at elections. The obstacle to utilising that is apathy.
In the last few days I’ve encountered from a couple of fishing people I know, admissions from one “I don’t vote” and “I’m not on the electoral roll.”
Such apathy is pathetic.
Ancient Greek philosopher Plato, said “The price of apathy is to be ruled by evil men.”
Hello Karl Lorenz and Tim Neville,
You’ve hit on the potential voting power at elections of trout and salmon anglers (178,000 licence holders). If you add saltwater recreational anglers, (over a million?) plus deerstalkers, pig hunters you’re talking of towards 1.5 million voters.
Add the probable support from family members and it’s massive. A giant voting bloc.
Is there any such a thing as public property anymore, it’s not just Bishop and Jones is it vote Labour and you’ll be living on tribal land, I think I will stick with the devils I know.
I remember the Hutt River resembling an open sewer back in the 1970’s. Is Minister Bishop keen to see that state of affairs back again in his own electorate?