5 August 2005
| Thanks
to all who have done their best to support the Kahawai
Legal Challenge. We appreciate the effort and are heartened
by your commitment. |
Contents:
Kahawai
Campaign
The fundraising campaign
to back up the Kahawai Legal Challenge has been well supported
during July. The team placing campaign booklets have made over
1330 phone calls and successfully placed almost 500 booklets
in the hands of people who have said yes, we will Stand
and Fight.
The feedback we are
getting from those being called is that many are already aware
of the campaign and are either booklet holders or keen to get
stuck in and share the information with their family, work colleagues
and friends. The money being raised from the booklets is being
deposited into the Kahawai Challenge Fund administered by trustees
associated with NZ Fishing News and the NZ Big Game Fishing
Council.
Returned
Campaign Booklets
With 2005 past the
half way mark many people have already taken their booklets
around their local clubs, pubs, workplaces and returned them
with as many contributions and t–shirt orders as they
could muster. This effort is encouraging and helping the team
to pay the bills as they arise.
Campaign
Publicity
We are seeking to improve
the profile of the campaign as we move into the phase of filing
the High Court action. This profile has been improved by the
recent filming of several television documentaries covering
the kahawai issue. This involved some of the team taking the
television crews, complete with cameras and sound gear, onto
the beach for a days kite fishing. Thankfully we managed to
catch a kahawai during filming. We eagerly await feedback from
the television crews and will let you know when the programmes
are due to screen on television.
Representatives from
the NZ Recreational Fishing Council (NZRFC), the NZ Big Game
Fishing Council (NZBGFC) and option4 attended a hui in Northland
with Ngapuhi and other iwi to explain issues surrounding the
Kahawai Legal Challenge and what impact it would have on our
collective non-commercial fishing interests. The response was
encouraging and a solid commitment has been made by the Chairman
of Te Runanga A Iwi O Ngapuhi, Sonny Tau, in the form of an
affidavit to support the Legal Challenge.
Minister
of Fisheries Response
Many of the kahawai
team were present at the NZRFC's conference in Wellington to
hear the Minister, David Benson-Pope make the following announcement
about “ a new policy idea – that species important
to recreational fishers should be managed above, or even significantly
above, what fisheries documents refer to as Bmsy – the
size of a fish stock that delivers the maximum sustainable yield.”
If applied, the outcome
of this new policy would see “more fish in the water”
which very encouraging and what we have been seeking
for some time.
Ministry
Announcement
During the same conference
we were advised the Ministry of Fisheries had issued another
Initial Position Paper (IPP) seeking views on new proposals
for kahawai management. The submission deadline was originally
set for 5th August. Thankfully the Ministry have extended the
cut off date to 10th August. This is still a very short timeframe
for us to work within, as our process requires more time to
consult with those who submitted to last year's proposal and
those who remain unaware of the proposals existence.
Reading the new IPP
it is obvious the Ministry still wants to pursue proportional
cuts to our allowances and commercial quotas. The proposal suggests
the status quo or a 10% proportional cut.
Draft submissions
are being prepared and will be reviewed by the Hesketh Henry
legal team before they are lodged with the Ministry of Fisheries.
They will then be posted online for your feedback. Please go
to www.kahawai.co.nz to
find out more.
Online
Updates and News
If you are online and
want to receive Updates from the Kahawai Legal Challenge team
and option4, please go to https://option4.co.nz/register.php
and register your details. You will receive timely advice
of events and news relating to changes in fisheries that are
important to you and your children's fishing future.
Legal
Challenge
A meeting of representatives
from all the organisations involved in the Legal Challenge was
held near the end of the month. The NZBGFC, NZRFC and option4
teams were given a very comprehensive briefing from the legal
team. Commitments were made by those present to consult with
their respective teams and respond to the lawyers by the second
week of August. It is expected that legal proceedings will be
filed shortly after that.
Summary
Overall, July was a
successful month for the fundraising campaign and the Legal
Challenge team. Progress is being made in many areas with valuable
contributions from so many people. Some of those are mentioned
below:
- Sonny Tau of Ngapuhi
- Larry Baldock of the United Future party
- Lionel Sands of Haines Hunter
- Stuart Ryan and James Bullock of Hesketh Henry Lawyers
- NZBGFC management group
- NZRFC Board and members
- option4 team
- Paul Barnes
- John Holdsworth
- Scott Macindoe
How
You Can Help
If you have not received
a campaign booklet please give the kahawai team a call on
0800 KAHAWAI (52 42
92).
Order your Support
Pack including campaign
booklet here » »
To make an automatic
$20 donation please dial 0900 KAHAWAI (52 42 92). This will
be billed to your telephone account.
Email the team at
contact@kahawai.co.nz
Thanks
for a great effort in July.
2005
is shaping up to be an interesting year for all who
enjoy fishing and the promise of “more fish in the water.”
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