Board of Directors

Photo Credit: Ian Barker

The Board of Directors are vested with the management of Fish Mainland’s affairs and the control of the funds and other property that is required to execute its day-to-day business. The Board of Directors will comprise:

One Director in each of the following regional groupings:

  1. Tasman District, Nelson City, Buller District and Grey District;

  2. Marlborough District and Kaikoura District;

  3. Canterbury Region, excluding the Kaikoura District and the Waitaki District;

  4. Otago Region, Waitaki District and Westland District; and

  5. Southland Region, including Stewart Island.

  • Two Directors appointed by the South Island Mandated Iwi Organisations.

  • Two Directors appointed by the Board for their professional expertise (e.g. one lawyer and one accountant).

  • An independent chair who is not the CEO of Fish Mainland.

Fish Mainland’s Constitution (for the purpose of incorporation) stipulates that the working group will preside as the Board of Directors on a voluntary basis until such time as the Members of Fish Mainland elect five of the nine Directors on the Board, and South Island Mandated Iwi Organisations appoint two Directors. The remaining two Directors will be appointed by the Board following the first Annual General Meeting (AGM) note: refer to the constitution of Fish Mainland Inc.

During the first AGM on 31 October 2020, those Members who have the right to vote (reside and/or own land in the South Island or Stewart Island) voted in the following Regional Directors:

· Fred Te Miha (021 661 662): Tasman District, Nelson City, Buller District and Grey District.

· Larnce Wichman (027 224 6683): Marlborough District and Kaikoura District.

· Barbara Reay (021 680 300): Canterbury Region, excluding the Kaikoura District and the Waitaki District.

· Brett Bensemann (021 456 772): Otago Region, Waitaki District and Westland District.

· Alan Key (027 432 8739): Southland Region, including Stewart Island.

The five elected Regional Directors appointed Neville Gurr (021 074 6221) as an additional Director, and Jim Crossland as the Chair of the Board (03 355 9433 / 021 029 45996). The Board has one further Director to appoint. Stewart Bull (021 222 4643) represents Ngai Tahu on the Board, and Te Tau Ihu Iwi have a Director to appoint.

The Board of Directors are your go-to people for concerns and suggestions on fisheries issues. The Board will work respectfully and collaboratively with Fisheries New Zealand (now Oceans and Fisheries) and others to find workable solutions to the challenges in shared fisheries.

Each Director elected from the regions is expected to represent the interests of their respective regional recreational fishers and the interests of all South Island fishers. Similarly, the Directors appointed by the Mandated Iwi Organisations are be expected to represent the interests of all South Island fishers, along with the interests of their respective or collective Iwi. The two Directors appointed by the Board are also expected to represent the interests of all South Island fishers.

At all Board meetings each Director has one vote, and resolution is decided by a simple majority. The Chairperson does not have a casting vote in Board or committee meetings.