by CORANZ researchers
Fisheries most notably sea fishing, is promising to be a significant election issue with National back- tracking on against the pro-industry moves made by Oceans and Fisheries Minister, NZ First’s Shane Jones.
The strong hint came from National MP and Minister of Conservation Tama Potaka when he recently announced Hauraki Gulf fishing policies including prohibiting ring netting in high protection zones such as the Gulf and a review of bottom trawling controls.
Strangely Potaka earlier had made a decision to allow ring net fishing – carried out by five or so fishermen – in two of the twelve high-protection areas in the Hauraki Gulf.
Voting potential
That National is sensitive to the potential number of votes in both the area and nationally is not surprising. The Hauraki Gulf is on the doorstep of the country’s biggest conurbation – towards two million population – and that the boat owning sector are almost certainly largely National Party voters suggests the National Party is alert. over the importance of fisheries management or mismanagement.
Tama Potaka was said to have been cautioned against the U-turn by the Ministry officials but National seem to see it unavoidable with an election now just six months away and aware of the potential voting might of the recreational fishing public, plus environmentalists.
Adding to the conundrum for the coalition government comprising National, Act and NZ First, is that Shane Jones is regarded as a biassed champion for the commercial industry, while ignoring the recreational public, Yet the recreational public are generally acknowledged to be over a million strong in people who recreationally fish.
Election Issue?
The Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Bill introduced high protection and seabed protection areas that exclude trawling, dredging and Danish seining across 18 percent of the gulf.
Fisheries now promises to be an on-going growing election issue, following three years of controversial pro-industry policies from the coalition Government, driven by Fisheries Minister NZ First’s Shane Jones.
Conservation minister Tama Potaka has made soothing noises to the outdoor recreational public by saying “we need to strike the right balance for future use of the Hauraki Gulf and other waters around New Zealand for those who fish, dive, swim, or collect kaimoana recreationally, as well as commercial and customary users.”
But Minister Jones unusually was not so forthcoming. NZ First hasn’t developed firm election policies he was quoted as saying. However Jones’ strong support for the corporate-based commercial fishing interests strongly hints at the bias.
ACT have already pushed against Shane Jones’ Fisheries Amendment Bills that proposed no minimum net mesh size for commercial fishers.
QMS
Shane Jones went on to loudly praise the Quota Management System (QMS) describing it as “an enviable system for managing fisheries.”
But fisheries management doesn’t bear out the minister’s lauding of the QMS which came into being about 1987.
Currently a number of fisheries such as orange roughy, kahawai, tarakihi, crayfish and others have collapsed or depleted, due to commercial over-fishing under the QMS administered by an inept Ministry.
Labour’s Oceans and Fisheries spokesperson Rachel Boyack reportedly replied in general terms saying “sustainability of the sector” is essential. She made no mention of overfishing or the recreational public.
Nevertheless like National, Labour has promised to reverse the decision to allow ring netting in Hauraki Gulf protection areas.
One commentator observed that a complete ban on bottom trawling in the Hauraki Gulf does not appear to be on Labour’s agenda.
Footnote: CORANZ urges recreational fishers to cement fisheries in as a major election issue by making submissions against the Fisheries Amendment Bill sponsored by Minister Shane Jones.
The bill is currently before a select committee. Submissions close May 9. Go to Legasea’s website for how to make a submission.
In addition e mail your MP, irrespective of party about your concerns of over-fishing and mismanagement. MP emails can be googled.
Which Party cares about the recreational fishing public?
Well questions abound after reading this very good article thanks CORANZ.
Is National’s U-turn sincere?
Or will it be a broken promise?
Why has NZ First gone along with Shane Jones “unbridled” bias for commercial as reports indicate leader Winston Peters enjoys sea fishing – or did?
Why does Labour seem to be so out of touch?
Will fisher’s apathy be shed or will they just snooze and selfishly not think of tomorrow?
Good point and in the footnote to the CORANZ article is action, each and every individual angler should take.
Arise and awaken.
“CORANZ Researchers” highlight a shift that appears to be occurring across fisheries policy. Decisions that were previously framed in technical or sector-specific terms are now being drawn into wider public attention. The Hauraki Gulf is not an isolated case, but a visible example of how competing uses of a shared resource are managed. Recreational access, environmental limits, and commercial activity all intersect in the same space. When policy settings change or appear inconsistent, confidence in the system is affected. That in itself can elevate fisheries from a background issue to one that attracts broader electoral interest.
The scale of recreational participation in fishing is often understated in policy discussions. With large numbers of people engaged directly or indirectly, decisions around access and management extend beyond a single sector. This creates a situation where outcomes are not only ecological or economic, but also social. Where expectations are not aligned with policy direction, pressure for change can build over time. The question is not simply one of allocation, but how different uses are balanced within defined limits. That balance becomes more visible where high-use areas such as the Hauraki Gulf are involved.
The reference to the Quota Management System reflects a broader debate that has developed over time. Introduced with the intention of providing long-term sustainability, its performance is now being assessed against current outcomes across a range of species. Some fisheries remain stable, while others show signs of depletion, suggesting that results are not uniform. This variation points to the importance of ongoing evaluation rather than fixed assumptions. Management systems must adapt to changing information and conditions, particularly where resource limits are involved. How that adaptation occurs will continue to influence confidence in fisheries governance.
Policy signals around fisheries appear to be shifting, and with that comes closer public scrutiny. Where decisions change direction or appear inconsistent, confidence can be affected, particularly in high-use areas such as the Hauraki Gulf. Recreational participation is significant, yet perceptions of balance between sectors remain contested. Management systems, including the Quota Management System, were designed to provide long-term stability, but outcomes across different fisheries suggest mixed results. This places greater emphasis on how decisions are made, explained, and adjusted over time. Fisheries policy is no longer confined to technical debate; it is increasingly shaped by visibility, participation, and public expectation.
Fisheries management is moving from a technical issue to a public one. Where outcomes and expectations diverge, scrutiny increases. In high-use areas like the Hauraki Gulf, decisions are no longer abstract. They affect access, confidence, and long-term sustainability in ways that are becoming harder to ignore.
The QMS is dependent on reliable information from the fisheries scientists and the interpretation of it from the ministry bureaucrats. It requires experienced people who have been out of the office into the environment – talking to the people “on the ground”. I have been to many so called consultation sessions, the format of which seem to be “this is what we are doing” sessions, not consultation. Really experienced people are loathe to waste their time if the outcome is already determined, the minds already made up. Our fisheries need full public input by the people – over a million New Zealanders – and an abundant fishery could result.
National doesn’t care about wise fisheries management. They’re only interested in getting re-elected.
Labour doesn’t care about wise fisheries management. They’re only going to do what the woke bureaucrats tell them to do.
NZ First doesn’t care about wise fisheries management. They’ve left it to Shane Jones who is in the pocket of the commercial boys and maori elites.
ACT doesn’t care about wise fisheries management. They’ve never been fishing so they don’t know anything.
Don’t get me started on the Greens or the Maori Party.
This revised Bill is a bloody joke and disturbing, our fishers need tight controls and firm management, if tight controls are removed, you will see our fishers vanish quickly, the new proposals are an insult driven by Government corruption
I couldn’t put it better than Peter Bragg has. Highlighting this bill is essential. Recreational fishers outnumber fishing company owners by a massive number; that translates into votes next November. In the meantime it is a worry when I see the rabid responses to criticisms that the likes of Jones and Willis exhibit. Meanwhile our esteemed PM is sleepwalking towards fascism while the proven social and psychological benefits of fishing get cast overboard.