What’s Changing And What It Means For Your Fishing And Hunting
From Auckland-Waikato Fish and Game
The Bottom Line
The Government is modernising Fish and Game. These changes may affect your access to hunting and fishing opportunities, how your licence fees are spent, and who makes decisions about the future of game bird hunting and sports fishing for decades to come.
What You Need to Know
Your Local Voice Stays Strong
Minister Meager has indicated that Regional Fish and Game Councils will still control what matters to you: seasons, bag limits, and local regulations. We agree its paramount that local decisions stay local-because local knowledge wins.
Auckland Waikato Fish and Game is seeking to keep 12 councillors (not drop to 8) because our region is large and diverse. More councillors = better representation for your area and your fishing or hunting interests.
Your Licence Fees Work Harder
A new funding model is coming. The goal: transparency on where your money goes. The government has taken a strong stance on ensuring funding is prioritised for front line staff and we totally agree, more of your licence fee should stay in the region, funding the work you see on the ground-habitat restoration, access negotiations, compliance, and monitoring. This region strongly supports a cap on National Office budgets to ensure more of your licence dollar doesn’t end up in Wellington.
Your Regional Team Stays Regional
Some regions are moving to a centralised system w here staff are no longer going to be employed in the regions that they work but will instead be employed by the New Zealand Fish and Game Council.We believe it’s paramount that we keep employing our own expert staff, the people who know your rivers, your wetlands, and your gamebird populations. These are the staff who maintain relationships with landowners, negotiate access, and deliver the outcomes you depend on.14 (delete number)
Your Advocacy Gets Stronger
Fish and Game need to remain an independent voice fighting for rivers, wetlands, habitat protection, and critically, your access to hunting and fishing opportunities.
What Auckland Waikato is Fighting For (On Your Behalf)
· Keep 12 councillors – maximum local representation for your interests.
· Regional staff independence – experts who know your patch stay under regional management.
· Fair funding – caps on national spending, more money working locally.
· Fish and Game to stay independent– maintaining Fish and Game’s ability to fight for your opportunities.
Why This Matters to You
You pay your licence to access quality hunting and fishing. These reforms will determine:
· Whether regions have enough voice to protect YOUR resources.
· How much of YOUR licence fee funds work in YOUR area.
· Whether local expertise continue to drive fisheries and gamebird management for you.
Auckland Waikato has consistently delivered: high-quality habitat work, strong landowner relationships, growing access opportunities, and credible advocacy. We’re active, competitive elections show you’re engaged, and our staff are recognized experts.
These reforms need to strengthen that model, not weaken it.
How You Can Have Your Say
Timeline:
· Early 2026: Fish and Game Bill introduced to Parliament
· Select Committee Process: You can submit written feedback and speak to the committee
· Winter 2026 (earliest): New law takes effect
This is your chance to influence the future of Fish and Game.
When the Bill drops, we’ll provide:
· Clear submission guides
· Key points to raise
· Important dates and deadlines
Your voice matters!
Select committees must consider every submission and this region has nearly half of New Zealand’s voters. Whether you submit in writing or speak in person, you can directly shape legislation that affects your hunting and fishing for decades to come.
Stay tuned-we’ll make it easy for you to participate.
In the meantime here is the link to the Statement of Service Performance so you can see how we spent YOUR licence money in the past 12 months.
From North Shore Fly Fishers’ newsletter
