Monday, 5 July 2004

UF/ORNZ applaud major environmental move

United Future New Zealand and its affiliated party Outdoor Recreation NZ have applauded the announcement of the mega-coalition between three of the country’s largest outdoor lobby groups.

Speaking from the New Zealand Recreational Fishing Council’s national conference in Whangarei, ORNZ Chairman Paul Check thoroughly endorsed the move as a pivotal next step in securing a united approach towards the issues impacting on outdoor recreation.

Mr Check said “We are currently riding a wave of heightened outdoor awareness amongst middle New Zealand and it is heartening to see such a development.

“The coalition of Fish and Game, the NZ Recreational Fishing Council and the Game and Forest Foundation will result in a powerful lobby group with a strong collective voice underpinned by solid hands on experience.”

United Future MP Larry Baldock, also present at the meeting, welcomed the announcement.

He said “The time is coming for a major shift in Government thinking on how it manages the conservation estate and the inshore marine environment.

“This change in thinking must accord priority to the interests of New Zealand recreational users.

“It is time Government looked at realigning its Ministries to better represent middle New Zealanders who are commonsense conservationists, rather than allowing the Green agenda to take precedence,” he said.

ENDS

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