Outdoors Policy

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=100 BGCOLOR="#CCCCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="04300640egdysm.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000066" FACE="Arial" ><B>Outdoor Recreation New Zealand</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><B>    |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Outdoor Recreation New Zealand"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="History"><U>History</U></A>   |   <B>Outdoors Policy</B>   |   <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Media Releases"><U>Media Releases</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Membership Form"><U>Membership Form</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Publications Library"><U>Publications Library</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gallery"><U>Gallery</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U>Links</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#A6CAF0" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>POLICIES of </B></div> <div> <B>OUTDOOR RECREATION NZ</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Ensure unrestricted Public Access to Public Land.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Ensure government agencies and local bodies fulfill their statutory obligations with aspect to Queen's chain, legal roads, marginal strips, easements and other legal mechanisms.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Restrict foreign and other ownership of New Zealand land where access to public land is not fully protected.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Ensure Government departments involved in the implementation of the Crown Tenure Review negotiations fully realise their obligations to New Zealanders in regards access to the resulting public lands.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Appoint an Access Ombudsman.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Promote legislation that ensures a priority legal right for all New Zealanders to gather seafood and have access to quality marine food resources. Following discussions with major salt water fishing groups our policies have been amended and authorised by the Council</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Ensure that all New Zealanders have a priority right over commercial fishers, to a reasonable daily bag limit, and have the ability to exclude commercial methods that may deplete recreationally important areas.  </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Ensure no licensing of salt-water recreational fishing and no licensing for the gathering of seafood for non-commercial purposes.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Ensure that recreational fishing and seafood gathering opportunities are not disadvantaged by the establishment of Marine Reserves. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Consult with all agencies and groups to plan for future generations to enjoy their legal right to take fish, while preventing fish conserved for recreational use being allocated to the commercial sector. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Promote the improvement of water quality in rivers, lakes, streams and the marine environment</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Support environmental agencies in implementing water quality standards.</B></div> <div> <B>Require government agencies and local bodies to consider the rights of outdoor sportspeople in their decisions pursuant to the RMA.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Ensure the rights of all affected parties are considered in any water resource usage approval that may be detrimental to one or more user of that resource.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Restrict the use of toxins that have the potential to harm the health, economic well being and recreational requirements of New Zealanders.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Ensure full accountability to the NZ public by those who use and apply poisons, toxins, or any modified biological agents or organisms in the NZ environment.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Protect local community interests and the New Zealand clean green image.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Consider alternative methods of control for pests such as possums, stoats, ferrets and weasels e.g. bounty.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Support recreational hunting and harvesting of  game animals</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Game animals to be recognised and managed as a valuable, sustainable resource.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Ensure that the ownership of all game animals remains vested in the Crown until lawfully taken.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Ensure the retention of the prohibition on the sale of shooting rights on public land.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Ensure that recreational hunters have equal rights with commercial operators (including safari operators) to the access and harvest of game animals on public lands.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Promote responsible firearm  ownership</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Ensure the maintenance of a system of lawful private ownership of firearms by fit and proper persons without undue cost and formality.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Regularly seek counsel from New Zealand's outdoor recreational organisations, lobby groups and users</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Gain information and advice on policy and issues of concern.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Strive to reach consensus between outdoor recreation groups.</B></div> <div> <B>Advocate in Parliament and elsewhere on behalf of NZ outdoor recreational users.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Review and reform legislation to reflect the policies of OUTDOOR RECREATION NZ,  including but not necessarily limited to:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Overseas Investment Act 1973, </B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Biosecurity Act 1993,</B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">National Parks  Act  1980,</B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Land Act 1948,</B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Crown Pastoral Land Act 1998,</B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Fisheries Act 1983 and 1996,</B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Wild Animal Control Act 1977,</B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Marine Reserves Act 1971,</B></div> <div> <B>Arms Act 1983</B></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=380 BGCOLOR="#A6CAF0" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Outdoors Policy</I></div> <bR> <div> Overview</div> <div> Outdoor Recreation New Zealand has developed an Outdoors policy that covers the following outdoor recreation related subject areas:  Marine Reserves; Practical Access to the Great Outdoors; DoC Reform; Large Game Habitat Management; a Maritime Protection Force; Oceans policy; Recreational Risk Management; and Marine and Freshwater Fishing.  Outdoor Recreation New Zealand's policies relating to these subject areas are set out in the document below.</div> <bR> <div> Also contained in this document is a set of robust environmental policy principles upon which our Outdoor policy is based.  These environmental policy principles are included in recognition of the fact that outdoor recreation is only enjoyable (and indeed possible in many cases) if the environment is in a good state of health, and if people are treated as an integral part of the environment rather than as undesirable interlopers.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Environment Policy Principles</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Introduction.</B></div> <div> Outdoor Recreation New Zealand recognise and support the principle that people form an integral part of the ecosystem and, therefore, that they have a right to sustainably operate in and utilise the ecosystem.  As a consequence, the basic needs and activities of people are the foundation upon which our environmental policy is based.</div> <bR> <div> In our view, people must not be excluded from participating fully in the environment by laws that have an undue emphasis on preservation and the prevention of change. Outdoor Recreation New Zealand support an environmental policy that embraces and protects the complex inter-relationship between people and the natural environment, and recognises the unique ability of people to deliberately influence and modify the environment by technological means.  We acknowledge that the ability to modify and utilise the natural environment brings with it attendant responsibilities that must be understood and accepted, but these responsibilities must be addressed in a balanced commonsense manner.  Attempting to somehow isolate people from the natural environment as though they don't have any real right to be there is not, from our viewpoint, the best way forward.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Key principles:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Sustainable use.</B></div> <div> Outdoor Recreation New Zealand do not advocate an open-slather approach to environmental management.  We understand that if people want to use the environment for outdoor recreation, for simply admiring or of course, as our basic life support system then the environment must be in good health.  In other words it must be used in ways that do not cause permanent widespread damage - i.e. in ways that are <I>sustainable</I>.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Sharing the environment.</B></div> <div> The huge variety of outdoor user groups, ranging from conservationists to recreational groups to tourists to the extreme-sports fraternity must be recognised, fostered and respected.  The law must explicitly acknowledge that all outdoor user organisations have equal rights to practice their individual pursuits and promote their own interests.  It is important to ensure that the imposition of laws and regulations do not favour one type of group over another - all are to be regarded as equal stakeholders.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Decisions to be based on empirical evidence - not ideology.</B></div> <div> Outdoor Recreation New Zealand are “commonsense greens”.  We believe that when environmental decisions are made, they should be based on robust scientific data - both in terms of identifying a “problem”, and in terms of projecting what the actual outcome of a particular policy or remedy might be.  We are constantly appalled at the ideologically based, knee-jerk claims that appear to dominate current environmental debate, often with little or no evidence to support them.  If the <I>opinions</I> of the current mainstream environmental movement ever hold sway inside parliament, we fear that the environment will become very much a no go zone for humans  - and for no good reason.  (With all the limits on outdoor pursuits, quality of life, freedom of choice, and economic activity that that would entail).</div> <bR> <div> <B>Education is the best tool for protecting the environment.</B></div> <div> Outdoor Recreation New Zealand believe that balanced environmental education programmes in schools, as well as programmes targeting the general public, are a good method for ensuring quality environmental outcomes.  If people act in an environmentally friendly manner of their own accord there will be less need for cumbersome red tape and more emphasis on personal responsibility.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >  </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I>Marine Reserves</I></div> <bR> <div> <B>Introduction</B></div> <div> Outdoor Recreation New Zealand believe that no-take marine reserves should only comprise one component of a graduated comprehensive plan to protect and ensure the sustainability of the entire marine environment.  In addition, the process for deciding where to establish no-take marine reserves should be more transparent and should ensure that the views of all relevant stakeholders - including recreational fishers - are taken into account (i.e. so they cannot simply be `listened to' on a pro forma basis and then ignored).</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Outdoor Recreation NZ will:</B></div> <div> Remove the Department of Conservation from the marine reserve application process, and prohibit the Department from proposing or initiating applications for new marine reserves;</div> <div> Appoint an independent agency to be responsible for the marine reserve application process and to handle submissions;</div> <div> Ensure that recreational interests are properly consulted regarding any regulatory changes to allowable marine activities;</div> <div> Continue to call for a moratorium on new marine reserve applications until the Marine Reserves Bill has been rewritten and passed by parliament;</div> <div> Provide additional scientific funding so that small ecologically sensitive areas that require the protection of a no-take marine reserve can be objectively identified and prioritised;</div> <div> Establish a graduated comprehensive system of marine protection for the entire marine environment whereby no-take marine reserves are one of several available categories of protection (the category that affords the maximum level of restrictions);</div> <div> Establish a marine protection category below no-take marine reserves where commercial fishing is prohibited but responsible recreational fishing is allowed (similar to the taiapure and mataitai concepts);</div> <div> Ensure that in order for a new marine reserve to receive approval it must have a clearly established and achievable purpose that will be of benefit to all New Zealanders (such as preserving a particularly unique and vulnerable species or ecosystem) and, in addition, require that it must be demonstrated that a no-take marine reserve is the only practicable way of achieving that purpose;</div> <div> Ensure that statutory Treaty of Waitangi fisheries management requirements such as those within the framework of the Fisheries Act will continue to be met (e.g. via the implementation of Taiapure and Mataitai type reserves) as part of any new marine protection arrangements;</div> <div> Seek to abandon the percentage approach to marine reserves and other protected areas as it is too arbitrary and is not necessary or useful as a marine management tool;</div> <div> Investigate ways to mitigate the offshore sediment problem resulting from the fertiliser and other pollutant run-off into streams and rivers that ultimately ends up in coastal waters and damages to marine life;</div> <div> Ensure that marine reserves are not used as a fisheries management tool for harvestable species - the existing QMS (in conjunction with more scientific research) is the best means for achieving this.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Background.</B></div> <div> As citizens of a maritime nation, New Zealanders all interact with, make use of, and are affected by the health of the marine environment.  It is a source of recreation, food, minerals, biodiversity, transport and, it has to be said, waste disposal.  </div> <bR> <div> Outdoor Recreation New Zealand seek to find better ways to enhance the marine environment in general, and its fish stocks and food gathering potential in particular.  We are not concerned solely with isolated areas labelled “marine reserves” which - if used in isolation - constitute a rather blunt instrument.  If the marine environment is managed sustainably then all New Zealanders can share in the full potential benefits from what is, after all, their birthright.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I>Practical Access to New Zealand's Great Outdoors</I></div> <bR> <div> <B>Introduction</B></div> <div> Outdoor Recreation New Zealand believe that all New Zealanders have a birthright to enjoy our unique, diverse landscape.  Our strong outdoor heritage is central to what it means to be a Kiwi.</div> <bR> <div> Throughout this term of the Labour-led Government we have advocated strongly for a Government Access policy that protects and enhances access to public land without impinging on the property rights of landowners.  A large proportion of what is required to promote access rights already legally exists in theory, it just needs to be clarified and enforced.</div> <bR> <div> Our policy does not advocate `rambling' such as is permitted in the United Kingdom where it has caused great tension between property owners and members of the public in may areas.  We favour a far more practical, tightly focussed approach based on reciprocal rights and responsibilities that builds on existing traditions and goodwill.  Our interest lies in maintaining and, where possible, enhancing public access to public land.  We are not interested in public access to private land per se - it is simply a means to an end.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Outdoor Recreation NZ will:</B></div> <div> Ensure that the notional Queen's Chain is formally enshrined in statute;</div> <div> Ensure that New Zealanders have clearly defined legal rights of access to public land (including the Queen's Chain);</div> <div> Establish a statutory land access agency and an Access Ombudsman to analyse, implement, administer and enforce a comprehensive land access strategy;</div> <div> Require a land access agency to negotiate specific access corridors across private land with landowners on a case-by-case basis (these corridors could in many instances be based on the `paper roads' and easements that already exist on many legal property titles but are not always acknowledged by landowners);</div> <div> Establish a legally binding Code of Conduct (via a land access agency) that prohibits trespassing beyond a legally established corridor, littering, leaving gates open or other nuisances, and any other conditions that may be deemed necessary;</div> <div> Encourage (or require) recreational clubs to adopt the Code of Conduct and deal with any complaints directed at their members;</div> <div> Ensure the access regime applies to all private land (including Maori land) for the purposes of ensuring access to public land for all legal pursuits;</div> <div> Establish a clear set of guidelines for applying to set up new access corridors;</div> <div> Require a land access agency to enforce the terms of access corridors on landowners once they have been legally established;</div> <div> Ensure adequate funding is available to cover any costs (such as track maintenance) the establishment or maintenance of an access corridor may entail - under no circumstances should the landowner incur any costs associated with public access corridors on their land;</div> <div> Establish a fund to compensate landowners up front for any damage that members of the public cause to their property (the land access agency can pursue offenders to recover the cost of fund payouts separately);</div> <div> Establish (via a land access agency in conjunction with Land Information New Zealand) a comprehensive land access database including maps and specific access corridor details;</div> <div> Employ rangers to monitor public Code of Conduct compliance and investigate violations;</div> <div> Establish a responsive complaints process (via the land access agency) for landowners who experience any problems.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Background.</B></div> <div> New Zealand has a strong tradition of access to the great outdoors, including a strong tradition of landowners giving permission for members of the public to cross their land for recreational purposes.  By balancing New Zealander's rights of access to their natural heritage with the rights of property owners in a clear, fair and balanced way  Outdoor Recreation NZ believe that our access rights to the great outdoors can be reliably secured for the foreseeable future.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>DoC Reform</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Introduction</B></div> <div> Outdoor Recreation New Zealand believe that the Department of Conservation should be responsive to the interests of all stakeholders when administering the conservation estate - including outdoor recreation groups, environmental organisations, the business sector, and individual New Zealanders in general.  However, it is widely believed at present that the Department is dominated by, and only looks after the interests of, the extreme ideological “green” elements of the environmental lobby.</div> <bR> <div> We are particularly concerned at the way that the Department appears to not only trample all over the interests of recreational users such as large game hunters and fishers, but that it is not even required to consider relatively balanced proposals affecting the national interest such as, for example, an expansion of the Dobson dam.  As a consequence, Outdoor Recreation New Zealand want to ensure that the Department of Conservation is required to consult with, and genuinely take into account the views of all relevant stakeholder groups in a fair, balanced and transparent way.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Outdoor Recreation NZ will:</B></div> <div> Amend the Conservation Act to ensure that the interests of all conservation estate stakeholders are taken properly into account when decisions are made (including the “national interest”);</div> <div> Restructure the Department of Conservation into at least two semi-autonomous divisions - one division responsible for the “conservation” aspects such as scientific research, pest control, and native plant and animal stewardship; the other division responsible for the “recreation” aspects such as land and waterway access, track and hut maintenance, game management, and tourism;</div> <div> Transfer all Department of Conservation advocacy responsibilities and policy capabilities to the Ministry for the Environment - this will improve the Department's accountability as it will no longer be both law maker and law enforcer;</div> <div> Remove all Department of Conservation responsibilities for managing the marine reserve application process (and prohibit it from proposing or initiating applications for new marine reserves);</div> <div> Establish transparent Department of Conservation public application and decision-making procedures for making decisions regarding use of the conservation estate;</div> <div> Provide additional funding for pest control measures, but only after a review of the efficacy and appropriateness of current methods (including the aerial application of 1080) has taken place and any recommendations stemming from the review have been implemented.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Background.</B></div> <div> As discussed above, Outdoor Recreation New Zealand are concerned that the processes for deciding how public conservation land is to be managed are not transparent, and that they appear to be captured by only one of the several interested groups - the environmental lobby.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Regarding pest control</B>, Outdoor Recreation New Zealand believe that more time and money should be allocated for this important task.  </div> <div> The exponential increase in exotic pest populations, such as that which has occurred with rats and mustalids in the Southern Beech Forests, along with other pests such as the Australian Brush Tailed opossum and wasps, need to be properly scientifically managed.  These pests, among others, have the potential to rapidly destroy large areas of New Zealand's native fauna and flora.</div> <bR> <div> We are supportive of most current pest control methods, provided that they are the most effective method available in the areas where it is used.   In light of this, Outdoor Recreation New Zealand are generally opposed to the aerial application of 1080 unless it is proven beyond reasonable doubt that the terrain in the treatment area is such that it would be impossible to carry out a successful ground baiting operation.  </div> <bR> <div> Another caveat we have regarding the use of 1080 poison is that it should not be used to target game animals such as deer, tahr or chamois.  These species, although exotic, are a valuable game resource and should not be targeted as pests.  Accordingly, when 1080 is used, it should be of the variety that contains deer repellent - a measure that will protect game numbers and reassure hunters that the animals are safe for human consumption.</div> <bR> <div> The perceived bias of the Department of Conservation towards solely “green” interests, combined with its opaque decision-making processes, have undermined the Department's credibility among many New Zealanders.  Outdoor Recreation New Zealand believe that DoC's credibility can be restored, and current grievances addressed, if a system of checks and balances is introduced to ensure fair, balanced and transparent decision-making within the organisation.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Large Game Habitat Management</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Introduction</B></div> <div> Outdoor Recreation New Zealand believe that deer, tahr, chamois and other large game animals represent a valuable renewable resource in terms of their recreational value and their potential to attract high-value overseas hunters and tourists.  Therefore, existing laws and regulations should be amended to reflect the status of large game animals as a valuable resource and to prevent them from being neglected, or even treated as pests as they sometimes are at present.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Outdoor Recreation NZ will:</B></div> <div> Modify and streamline the laws regarding game animals in New Zealand, including changing the legal status of large game animals to ensure they are treated as a resource and not as a pest;</div> <div> Require that when 1080 carrots or cereal pellets are used for pest control, they are of the type that contains deer repellent;</div> <div> Require that the Department of Conservation develop robust game management plans for large game animals on the conservation estate, in much the same way that Fish & Game New Zealand manage introduced recreational bird and fish species;</div> <div> Introduce specialised Wildlife Officers to administer and supervise large game and game management plans (either under the auspices of the current DoC, a newly formed branch of DoC, or an expanded Fish and Game New Zealand);</div> <div> Provide additional funding for scientific study into the impact of large game animals on different parts of the environment;</div> <div> Develop objective benchmarks for determining the relative merits of alternative proposals for how game animals should be managed in New Zealand.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Background.</B></div> <div> Deer were first introduced into New Zealand during the 1860s in the Nelson area, and by the 1920s they had migrated throughout the country.  Their numbers remained relatively small until the late 1930s and 1940s when the deer population underwent substantial increase - largely due to the Second World War.</div> <bR> <div> The New Zealand Forest Service introduced the first deer eradication programme as early as 1927 due to the perceived damage these introduced animals were causing, and a full “deer culling” programme was introduced in the 1930s.  This effort reached its greatest extent during the late 1940s and 1950s.</div> <div>  </div> <div> During the 1960s, the potential of large game animals like deer as a valuable and sustainable source of export earnings became apparent.  It was at this time that the export of venison to overseas markets commenced - followed quickly by the use of helicopters for animal recovery and the widespread development of deer farms.  In other words, wild deer were exploited for economic gain and as a consequence were brought largely under control.</div> <bR> <div> Today, New Zealand's large game animals continue to represent a substantial renewable resource in terms of recreation and overseas earnings.  Collectively, these animals add more than $460m of value per annum to the New Zealand economy - and if managed correctly they could be worth a lot more.</div> <bR> <div> Outdoor Recreation New Zealand are concerned that the recreational and commercial opportunities presented by New Zealand's large game animal population could be lost, or at least fail to meet their full potential, under current regulatory arrangements.  This is why we believe legislative changes are needed to enshrine in law the status of animals such as deer, chamois and tahr as a valuable, renewable resource.</div> <bR> <div> A legislative change in status is particularly important in order to prevent organisations like the Department of Conservation from treating these animals as pests - whether through direct targeting or through subtler methods such as dropping 10/80 poison in large doses without using deer repellent so that it “accidentally” reduces deer numbers alongside the [other] pests it is ostensibly targeting.</div> <bR> <div> In conjunction with the legislative changes discussed above, a comprehensive game management system that identifies important recreational hunting and tourist areas, and reliably assesses the environmental impact of deer, chamois and tahr populations will ensure that New Zealand society and the New Zealand economy get maximum benefit from this important resource. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>Maritime Protection Force</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <B>Introduction.</B></div> <div> Outdoor Recreation New Zealand support the creation of a well resourced professional Maritime Protection Force to monitor and enforce compliance with laws and regulations pertaining to New Zealand's in-shore marine environment.</div> <bR> <div> <B>The Maritime Protection Force will:</B></div> <div> Patrol New Zealand's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) on a regular basis;</div> <div> Have comprehensive sea and air capabilities;</div> <div> Operate administratively as a branch of the New Zealand Defence Force;</div> <div> Include personnel recruited or seconded from the airforce and navy, as well as existing fisheries officers;</div> <div> Liaise and operate closely with coastal fisheries inspectors and the Ministry of Fisheries;</div> <div> Be given in-shore search and rescue responsibilities and be deployed as and when required to fulfil such responsibilities in conjunction with associated Government and private sector services;</div> <div> Have far reaching powers to detain individuals and impound vessels found to be in breach of the law;</div> <div> Be empowered to intervene under New Zealand and international law in the case of suspected criminal activity at sea;</div> <div> Perform a training function for all sea faring personnel in conjunction with the facilities of the army, navy and airforce;</div> <div> Receive its funding from a combination of NZ Defence Force funds, levies on commercial fishing operations, and the revenue generated from infringement penalties.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Background.</B></div> <div> As a nation made up of many islands encompassing thousands of miles of coastline, New Zealand is responsible for a huge area of ocean and the abundant natural resources contained within and beneath it.  New Zealand's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is the fourth largest in the world and presents us with many economic opportunities in areas such as fisheries, pharmaceuticals, and mineral exploitation and, of course, presents us with many recreational opportunities as well.</div> <bR> <div> With opportunity, however, comes responsibility.  Outdoor Recreation New Zealand believe that the economic and recreational use of the oceans should be balanced with the need to care for and maintain the diverse eco-systems they contain.  Accordingly, New Zealand's ocean resources require a robust and properly enforced regulatory regime to protect them from over exploitation and environmental degradation.</div> <bR> <div> The regulations that are currently in place to protect New Zealand's marine environment are, if not inadequate in themselves, certainly not well enforced.  Fisheries abuses in particular are a growing problem.  Outdoor Recreation New Zealand believe that the enforcement of maritime regulations as they pertain to the protection of New Zealand's marine environment must be accorded top priority.</div> <bR> <div> How is this to be achieved?  Outdoor Recreation New Zealand believe that the main problem is one of resourcing.  The rigorous enforcement of regulations pertaining to New Zealand's marine environment can at least in part be achieved by the formation of a well-resourced, professional Maritime Protection Force.  Such a force should be comprised of long-range rapid response vessels equipped with helicopter surveillance capability and supported by long-range reconnaissance aircraft.  Some of this capacity could potentially be drawn from, or operate in conjunction with, existing navy and airforce resources and infrastructure.</div> <bR> <div> With a dedicated, well resourced professional Maritime Protection Force in operation, the present costly system of ad hoc Orion overflights and frigate patrols could be redeployed.  This would not only increase the efficiency and effectiveness of New Zealand's enforcement mechanisms, it would also free up more of the navy and airforce's already overburdened `big ticket' military equipment for other duties.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Oceans</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Introduction</B></div> <div> Outdoor Recreation New Zealand's Oceans policy concerns the impact of commercial activities on the marine environment such as mineral extraction and commercial fishing.  It complements our separate Marine Reserve and Recreational Fishing policies.</div> <bR> <div> We believe that the wide range of commercial opportunities presented by New Zealand's large Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) bring with them a duty to act cautiously and responsibly.  Outdoor Recreation New Zealand want to see the economic potential of New Zealand's EEZ developed to its full extent - but not at the expense of causing lasting environmental harm or seriously curtailing recreational opportunities.  The relative inaccessibility of many parts of the EEZ to the general public should not give rise to an `out of sight, out of mind' attitude.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Outdoor Recreation NZ will:</B></div> <div> Develop, in consultation with all stakeholders, sensible, balanced and far reaching marine management plans;</div> <div> Promote, and provide the necessary funding for, education at all levels of society as the single most important ingredient for ensuring the future wellbeing of the marine environment;</div> <div> Participate in and help to develop truly international agreements to address truly global problems facing the world's oceans such as pollution, over-fishing, agricultural runoff and the over exploitation of resources;</div> <div> Ensure that the Department of Conservation is no longer involved in the implementation of rules and regulations concerning New Zealand's oceans and replace it with an agency that is obliged to treat all relevant stakeholders in an even-handed manner.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Background.</B></div> <div> Outdoor Recreation New Zealand recognise that the ocean is of vital importance - not just to New Zealanders, but also for the wellbeing and sustainability of all life on the planet.  It provides us with access to many opportunities ranging from the commercial harvesting of food and mineral resources to being a medium for transportation and recreation.  In addition, its central role remains the maintenance of the evaporation-condensation cycle necessary to sustain life.</div> <bR> <div> How well we manage and protect the resources and opportunities the ocean provides will determine their viability in the future.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Recreational Risk Management</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Introduction</B></div> <div> Outdoor Recreation New Zealand believe that Occupational Health and Safety regulations are not always compatible with outdoor recreation pursuits.  The key to the problem lies in the fact that these types of regulations are literally designed for `occupational' (i.e. employment related) activities and not `recreational' activities.  Whereas occupational activities should of course be made as safe as possible, recreational pursuits carry an inherent degree of risk that is (or should be) accepted by most participants.</div> <bR> <div> We intend to ensure that New Zealanders at play in the outdoors should not be burdened unnecessarily by inappropriate legislation.  New Zealand's legislation as it applies to outdoor recreation activities should be amended so it takes a risk management approach rather than an (impossible) risk elimination approach.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Outdoor Recreation NZ will:</B></div> <div> Amend OSH and related regulations to take into account the fact that there is an inherent risk in outdoor activities - and that this forms part of their very appeal;</div> <div> Clarify the law relating to the liability of event organisers;</div> <div> Legislate to enable outdoor recreation event participants to sign a binding organiser's liability waiver to take effect in the event that something not easily foreseeable goes wrong;</div> <div> Generally work to ensure that schools, sporting organisations and individuals are free to organise and participate in outdoor events without fear of legal reprisal if something not easily foreseen goes wrong;</div> <div> Ensure that Access rules are clarified (see separate policy) in conjunction with OSH related regulations to ensure that liability concerns cannot be used as an excuse for landowners to refuse access to their land for outdoor recreation events and activities;</div> <div> Add an outdoor education component to the school curriculum that encompasses reasonable care and safety in New Zealand's outdoor environment;</div> <div> Form an independent statutory body with responsibility for the promotion, support and safety of outdoor recreation for the New Zealand public.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Background.</B></div> <div> Interaction with the outdoors is an intrinsic part of many New Zealander's lifestyles and deserves to be recognised as such by the law.  Outdoor recreation is not a privilege to be doled out to those who can navigate the increasingly complex and politically correct legal minefield - rather, it is a birthright.  However, at present many outdoor events are being put under pressure or cancelled by the increasing application of OSH regulations that were originally designed, quite appropriately, for commercial and industrial environments.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Marine Recreational Fishing</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Introduction</B></div> <div> Outdoor Recreation New Zealand recognise that New Zealanders have a long tradition of making the most of our marine resources and, as such, have acquired common rights to harvest a bounty that is accessible to all.  Currently, however, these common rights are being largely ignored and successive Governments and their respective Ministers of Fisheries are denying the legal recognition of these common rights.</div> <bR> <div> Our overriding aim is to have the rights of recreational users and harvesters enshrined in law.  For this reason we are pushing for a review of Section 21 of the Fisheries Act to guarantee that the Minister of Fisheries has to set recreational user's share of the relevant QMS (Quota Management System) before setting the commercial sector's quota.</div> <bR> <div> Freedom of access to these resources must also be preserved - although still restricted to legally takeable marine species and quotas.  Above all,  Outdoor Recreation New Zealand recognise that the sustainability of the resource is paramount in order to safeguard these rights and to preserve this uniquely New Zealand way of life for now and for the future.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Outdoor Recreation NZ will:</B></div> <div> Establish a statutory management structure for the marine recreational fishery (to be superimposed over one of the existing marine fishing organisations) - possibly along the same lines as the Fish and Game management structure;</div> <div> Partially fund the new statutory organisation by setting up a rebate system whereby any petrol excise tax paid on fuel used in recreational vessels will be refunded and diverted to that organisation;</div> <div> Review and amend the Fisheries Act to ensure that recreational fishers have a priority right over and above the commercial fishing sector to free and unrestricted access to a reasonable daily bag-limit of shellfish and finfish;</div> <div> Substantially increase the level of funding made available for robust scientific monitoring over the impact that specific catch limits and fishing methods are have on fish populations and the marine environment in order to ensure sustainability;</div> <div> Ensure that the Government recognises that education is essential for the future survival of the oceans resources and to make the appropriate additions to the school curriculum;</div> <div> Investigate a program to give `problem' kids experience going out on a recreational fishing boat.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Freshwater Recreational Fishing</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Introduction</B></div> <div> Outdoor Recreation New Zealand recognise the fact that New Zealand has a freshwater fishery that is one of the best in the world.  New Zealand's freshwater fisheries are currently managed very well managed by Fish and Game New Zealand's network of regional structures.</div> <bR> <div> Given the high quality of New Zealand's freshwater fishery and its management structure, we are primarily concerned with two issues related to the freshwater fisheries: 1) water quality and (2) right of access.</div> <bR> <div> First, water quality.  The quality of New Zealand's inland waterways has been generally deteriorating as time passes.  In some specific areas, public health and the recreational usage of these bodies of water is in jeopardy.   This deterioration needs to be addressed quickly through the introduction of appropriate educational tools and the raising of awareness within the industries implicated as part of the cause of this problem.  Such a program could include financial assistance to accelerate reforms within certain industries and be reinforced by regulatory intervention such as the establishment of a National Environmental Standard for inland lakes and waterways.</div> <bR> <div> Second, access.  Access to New Zealand's freshwater fisheries is a basic right that should be accorded to every New Zealander.  The exclusion of the average New Zealander from specific fisheries through the denial of access is unacceptable but is a phenomenon that is on the rise.  See our “Practical Access to New Zealand's Great Outdoors” policy section for details of how we intend to address the access issue.</div> <div>   </div> <bR> <div> <B>Outdoor Recreation NZ will:</B></div> <div> Ensure that a program to improve water quality is developed and implemented through consultation with all stakeholders - this should include financial incentives to assist eligible industries to clean up their act;</div> <div> Develop a National Environmental Standard (NES) for the quality of New Zealand's freshwater lakes and waterways;</div> <div> As part of any freshwater NES develop strict controls to prevent the transfer of undesirable algae, weed and pollutants between water bodies through poorly cleaned boats, trailers and the pumping of dirty bilges;</div> <div> Encourage the use of alternative non-renewable and renewable resources in the place of hydroelectric generation provided they meet strict emission standards;</div> <div> Reinstate the Queens Chain where applicable as a pre-requisite before foreign land sales can be approved;</div> <div> Ensure that the commercialisation of trout species and other freshwater species will remain illegal in order to preserve our freshwater fisheries for recreation and tourism;</div> <div> Promote the principle that all New Zealanders have a common right to access unpolluted freshwater fisheries and waterways for recreational use.</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>