Ministers MCG Response May 2001

Office of Hon Pete Hodgson
MP for Dunedin North

Minister of Energy
Minister of Forestry
Minister for Small Business
Associate Minister for Economic Development
Associate Minister for Industry & Regional Development
Minister of Fisheries
Minister of Research, Science &Technology
Minister for Crown Research Institutes
Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Minister Responsible for Timberlands West Coast Ltd

Dear Mr Barnes,

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Thank you for your letter dated 24 April 2001. I am, however, disappointed at the tone. It seems that you are not inclined towards participating in a ministerial advisory group. I may be wrong and, if that is the case, you should proceed to nominate some candidates for my consideration.

I have directed officials at the Ministry of Fisheries (MFish) to begin the process of preparing policy papers to take to my cabinet colleagues for consideration. As I have mentioned previously the ministerial advisory group will provide a sounding board for the policy papers before I put proposals up to cabinet. This is a measure of the importance I place on recreational fishing in New Zealand and the need to get any reforms right.

I intend to have the advisory group up and running by the end of the month. Other people within the recreational fishing community have indicated they are prepared to participate. I am prepared to meet with you before finalising the membership of the group if you consider it to be worthwhile. You will need to make an arrangement with my office if you wish to come to Wellington.

Regarding your comments about the consultation process, I personally found all the reports and submissions that came out of the "Soundings" process interesting and informative. I suggest that if you have concerns about the integrity of the process that you take them up with the Ministry of Fisheries who will be happy to provide you with any information they have available.

At this stage I have no intention of re-litigating the past. Rather I am focussed on defining the future of recreational fishing. Recreational fishing faces some serious threats and I intend to address those with a sound policy package.

Yours sincerely

Hon Pete Hodgson
Minister of Fisheries