Listening to the people – the core to democracy

We have recently observed farmers up and down the country voice their opposition to the Government during the ‘Howl of a Protest’ demonstration. Thousands of people turned up in support of farmers who consider the Government is imposing unworkable regulations and unjustified costs on their businesses.

The Hon David Parker, Minister for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries and other things, was quick to head off the protest’s groundswell by asserting that farmers should not expect the Government to back down on its environmental commitments, especially to clean up fresh waterways. He said, “I think most people know we need to clean up our rivers [and so] not all of the criticism is fair.”

Fish Mainland shares others’ concerns about the degradation of our rivers, nitrate levels in groundwater and increasing incidents of flooding. But, like farmers, we object to the ham-fisted way the Government and its officials often approach solutions to these problems.

On behalf of South Island recreational fishers, Fish Mainland has recently expressed similar sentiments when dealing with a series of Government actions that have (potentially) adversely impacted on South Island marine recreational fishing more than at any other time.

These actions relate to the Government’s proposed Southeast South Island Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), implementation of the Blue Cod Strategy rule changes and the set net ban imposed on some longstanding inland waterways that do not pose any risk to dolphins.

On this basis, Fish Mainland can relate to the plight of farmers, especially when Minister Parker responded to our concerns by asserting that “While I can appreciate such changes can have an impact on resource users, action was required to ensure the sustainability of blue cod and protection of the Hector’s and Maui Dolphin.”

While we agree that actions to ensure sustainability are our shared goal, both examples are in fact the consequence of his officials’ delayed thinking through of the issues without the benefit of any public input (consultation). In other words, we are now helping his officials to address the problems they created on their own and fail to contribute to resource sustainability.

We also replied that we eagerly await the Government’s decision on the Southeast MPAs with hope that it will heed advice to avoid the current proposals that would ban fishing in some longstanding recreational fishing areas while requiring fishers to fish in adverse weather areas that could compromise their health, safety and wellbeing.

Again, we highlighted these proposals are the direct consequence of officials having failed to include recreational fishing representation that could have provided public input into the proposal’s design process.

Also, we reminded Minister Parker that Fish Mainland exists to aid him and his officials in making more informed decisions about sustainably managing the marine environment and extraction of resources for the benefit of all who fish in South Island waters.

But, for this to occur, we need to have a place around the table when consideration is given to the big issues that can impact on resource and environmental sustainability. And the Minister and his officials must listen to the people who may be impacted by the solutions under consideration. It follows that if errors have been made in regulation, then there must be a willingness to reconsider them.

Accordingly, we have invited Minister Parker and the Hon Damien O’Connor to join us in meeting with set netters at the top of the South to hear first-hand their concerns about the ban and the consultation process, along with their solutions.

We will keep you posted.

This article is also available on The Fishing Paper, August 2021 issue 191. View original paper