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

25 March 2002

Paul Barnes
option4
PO Box 37951
Parnell
Auckland

Dear Paul
RECREATIONAL FISHERIES REFORM

I have read your correspondence regarding the Cabinet paper FIN (01) 216. I do not agree with every one of the points you make but I am not going to address the issues point by point. I wish to move on and not to dwell on the past so I do not think it would be constructive to re-litigate previous decisions. I am sure that your comments will form an interesting backdrop to the debate that will occur next year and this is where the focus should be now.

The Ministry is going to prepare a public discussion document with some recommended changes to the management regime and all stakeholders will get the opportunity to comment on it before I make my decisions. Until this time the focus is on ensuring that everyone is up to speed to contribute to an informed public debate. Unfortunately due to a large number of demands on my time I am unable to meet with you in the near future.

Yours sincerely

Hon Pete Hodgson
Minister of Fisheries