Opinion by Andi Cockroft, Chair, CORANZ
As New Zealand moves into another election year, CORANZ has been reflecting on what happened previously.
In 2020, we published an Outdoor Recreation Charter and invited political parties to respond. The questions were simple. Mostly yes or no. No essays required. No ambushes. No trick wording.
Only around ten percent chose to engage.
That raises an obvious question:
why?
Was the Charter too long?
Too specific?
Too inconvenient?
Or was outdoor recreation itself simply not considered politically significant?
More than a million New Zealanders fish, hunt, tramp, paddle, climb, ride, camp, ski or simply spend time outdoors. That is not a fringe activity. It is not a niche interest. It is a defining feature of how people live here.
So what does it say when most political parties decide it is not worth responding to?
Silence is not neutral. Silence is a choice.
In 2020, parties that did respond ranged from full engagement to partial answers. Some avoided whole sections. Some replied late. Some not at all. The most striking feature was not disagreement - it was absence.
That absence was never really challenged. Perhaps that was our mistake.
If non-engagement carries no cost, why would behaviour change?
So for Election 2026, CORANZ will be changing its approach.
We are not interested in long policy essays that say everything and commit to nothing. We are not interested in warm language about values that quietly dissolves when decisions are made. We are not interested in being reassured that outdoor recreation is “important” while access shrinks, competence erodes, and responsibility is endlessly deferred.
What we are interested in is clarity.
This year, CORANZ will be asking a small number of unavoidable questions. Questions that can be answered briefly. Or not answered at all. Questions that force a position, or reveal its absence.
Responses will be published verbatim.
Non-responses will also be published.
No scoring.
No interpretation.
No chasing.
If a party or candidate believes outdoor recreation is irrelevant, they are free to say so. Or to remain silent. Either way, that position - or lack of one - will be visible.
After the election, those same questions will still exist.
What changed?
What didn’t?
Who said nothing, and continued to say nothing?
CORANZ does not tell people how to vote. But we do believe voters are entitled to know who is prepared to engage with the outdoors as a public good, and who is not.
The outdoors does not lobby.
Rivers do not issue press releases.
Access lost is rarely regained.
If political parties want the support, trust, or even the attention of the outdoor recreation community, engagement is the minimum starting point.
This election year, silence will no longer pass unnoticed.
What a breath of fresh air. Thank you Andi and CORANZ.
There seems so much complacency or is it just resignation in thinking the corporate capitalist course of exploitation is immovable and set on its course via the likes of Shane Jobnes and Chris Bishops Fast Track Approval Act?
Your message will – hopefully – shake people out of their indifference and inertia.
There has been an element of private organizations pushing their own agendas in the past, often by slandering other groups.
How is it that legislation such as the “Self Contained Motor Vehicles” Bill gets passed while the majority oppose it? Labour used their seat majority and party orders.
Then we had the Select Committee situation where National with the majority of committee seats refuse to carry out the required Democratic functions and write a report to table outlining submissions made at the Select Committee. For many the select committee was the first time to submit on practical options which were not tabled by the presenting Minister Stuart Nash.
When things started heating up for MP Nash some 6 months after he presented his recommendations, he then blamed a report penned by the Environmental Commissioner Simon Upton – the problem with that being Mr Uptons report was dated some 3 months “after” Nash presented his recommendations.
One thing is clear – education which applies to all freedom campers (and outdoor persons) will work to reduce animosities, hostilities and create a fair playing field for all.
It maybe the only sensible solution available to address the situation we now have.
I don’t expect parties to agree with everything, but not responding at all feels dismissive. Outdoor recreation is how a lot of us stay sane and healthy. If it doesn’t even register politically, that’s worrying. Making silence visible is a smart shift.
Some will say this embarrasses politicians. Good. If they’re uncomfortable answering basic questions about public land, water, and access, that discomfort is deserved. CORANZ isn’t telling anyone how to vote - just who bothered to engage. That seems reasonable in an election year.
I’ve fished and tramped for 40+ years and watched access slowly disappear without anyone taking responsibility. The frustrating part isn’t disagreement, it’s being ignored. Asking fewer, sharper questions and recording who won’t answer feels like a fair test. No spin, no chasing - just show us who’s listening.
About time. I remember the 2020 Charter and the silence spoke louder than the answers. If parties can’t even tick a box on outdoor access, why would anyone trust them to protect it once elected? Publishing non-responses is the right move. Silence is a position, whether politicians like it or not.
So parties failed even to tick a simple yes/no box on a questionaire?
Well, the most democratic questionaire I’ll ever get is my ballot paper, yet these jokers want me to put a tick against their names ???? Fair’s Fair after all – support me and I might well support you – can’t be bothered then neither can I.
A small sentence struck a chord, i.e. “Silence is not neutral. Silence is a choice.”
Silence is not golden. In the case of politics, silence represents apathy.
Plato said “The price of apathy is to be ruled by evil men.”
Where is the loud and public advocacy by national oranisations in the environmental area? I hear silence from hunting organisations, Fish and Game is a timid tame whisper, the Department of Conservation is a timorous bureaucracy with a Minister who never advocates for the public commons and who is so infrequently heard, that I’ve almost forgotten his name.
CORANZ does a sterling job speaking up. I presume it is all voluntary run?
Those slumbering organisations need to wake up. So does the average Hunter and Angler.
The key item in the last election responses was the lack of info/involvement from the two main parties. It is important that contact with them begins very early in the year so that they do not get diverted by the usual kaleidoscope of non-issues that the minor parties revel in. We know that there will be some sympathy from Greens, Outdoors and Te Pati Māori. Winston will look for a captivating single issue to mask Shane Jones noise and some of the others won’t have a clue (not that it matters as they will never be in Cabinet).
Once we have one of the main parties taking a stance then debate will start. Any ideas on bringing them into the discussions????
None of the young know what they are about to lose. Target the younger ones and let them know what’s coming if they don’t stand up and fight for the outdoors
Let’s get behind the Outdoors Party,
The real Key for an improved Fish & Game environment ? Is taking a Leaf out of the Pharma Industry , where our N.Z Doctors are “banned” from copping any Perks / Free Bs , from any medicine / drug products they purchase ! It should be the same rule for anyone buying Ag / Hort Chemical > Pesticides, Weedicides Fert Etc ? Ag Chem is dumped by “OVERUSE ” so they can rush back for MORE Free Bs !! so our Water Quality is out the Door , along with toxic =Algal Blooms Etc. Nationwide we use around THREE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED TONS OF PESTICIDE ? that’s ‘way too much ! Just Last week talking with a Cow Cocky , noticed he was holding his strides up, with a rather flash Aussie R,M. Williams leather Belt ? anyway he was given it , with buying an extra can of Drench ! so there you go , I rest my Case .