Foreign Charter Vessels Must Go
The Kiwi Party
Press Release
April 4, 2011
Kiwi Party leader Larry Baldock congratulates Sunday Star Times reporter Michael Field for putting the spotlight on the
appalling practices carried out by charter vessels in the NZ fishing industry.
“That sort of behaviour is absolutely disgraceful and there is no place for it in any New Zealand industry, or through
those who contract into our industries”, Mr Baldock said.
"In 2005 when I was in parliament I was able to pressure the Labour Government to investigate what was happening on
charter vessels. Despite the Government having clear evidence of this abuse and breaches of immigration and labour laws,
not to mention health and safety issues, nothing has changed in the past six years.
“If foreign charter vessels are able to undercut New Zealand vessels by engaging in the awful practices outlined by the
Sunday Star Times article yesterday, then New Zealand vessels will become increasingly unviable and New Zealand workers
will be shut out of the industry completely.
"I call on Minister Phil Heatley to give urgent attention to addressing these matters by giving our fisheries back to
New Zealanders", the Kiwi Party leader concluded.
Ends