Press Release 14th October 2001.

Labour abandons Conservation and Recreation with a Whimper

The New Zealand Federation of Freshwater Anglers, a national organisation of angling clubs and anglers, slammed Mark Burton’s announcement of a 3-year extension of the moratorium on trout importation on Saturday as ‘a complete cop-out’.

President Alan McMillan said “Anglers had been waiting since 1998 (when the Protection of Trout as a Non-commercial Species Bill was introduced) for this Coalition Government to honour its commitment to the 200,000 freshwater anglers in New Zealand. It now appears that their commitment to recreational angling is as endangered as the water in our rivers”.

Ken Sims. Research Officer for the Federation, described the announcement as “Whimping out”. “The Government doesn’t even have the fortitude to pass its own legislation,” he said. “What is so complicated about preserving the status quo in law, ie protecting a world renowned recreational asset so fondly used by tourism promotions, which is paid for and managed by the anglers of New Zealand, from those who would sacrifice it for their own selfish commercial gain? In New Zealand (unlike other countries) trout have always been a recreational and non-commercial species. We are simply asking the government to uphold the original intent of the Conservation Act 1987, and enshrine the existing status of trout in this country in law. The Labour party itself produced the legislation to do this. Now, despite it having been through a select committee, they refuse to progress it through into law.”

President Alan McMillan added, “Anglers are a patient lot, it is part of their psyche. They are also passionate about the sport of angling and the environment it is conducted in. The Federation has been fighting this battle in one form or another since the 1970’s. That’s longer than any current member of Parliament has been around. We aren’t about to stop now. In October 1999 the Labour Party produced some pledges on Outdoor Recreation. Those aren’t looking too healthy two years down the track, and surely they will be held accountable for them soon. And I’m sorry Mr Burton, but a $50,000 cheque to the Tongariro Trout Centre simply doesn’t cut it”

ENDS

Contact:

Alan McMillan Ken Sims

President Research Officer

NZFFA NZFFA

Phone/Fax: (03) 489 8284 Phone (06) 356 9402 Fax: (06) 356 9404

Email: club.wingatui@xtra.co.nz Email: ken_sims_98@yahoo.com

Web site: http://go.to/NZFFA Web site: http://go.to/NZFFA

Ken Sims Research Officer New Zealand Federation of Freshwater Anglers (Inc.) Executive Member - Council of Outdoor Recreation Associations of New Zealand (CORANZ)

63 Maxwells Line Palmerston North New Zealand

E-Mail: ken_sims_98@yahoo.com http://go.to/NZFFA

Ken Sims Research Officer New Zealand Federation of Freshwater Anglers (Inc.) Executive Member - Council of Outdoor Recreation Associations of New Zealand (CORANZ)

63 Maxwells Line Palmerston North New Zealand

E-Mail: ken_sims_98@yahoo.com http://go.to/NZFFA

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