National Agrees to Unitedfuture Bottom Line – No Negotiation Needed!

UnitedFuture Leader Hon Peter Dunne and Outdoors Spokesperson Alan Simmons welcomed the announcement today by the National Party that they will establish recreational fishing only reserves in the Hauraki Gulf and Marlborough Sounds.

“Clearly National’s Fisheries and Conservation spokesmen Nathan Guy and Nick Smith have meticulously read UnitedFuture’s recreational fishing policy in our 2014 Manifesto, http://www.unitedfuture.org.nz/policy/outdoors-and-outdoor-recreation#Marine%20Recreational%20Fishing, and concluded that in any post-election coalition negotiation our well signalled policy of establishing fishing only reserves would be a bottom line. They have also clearly accepted the compelling logic of this policy and have today embraced it as a new initiative in a National-led government.

“I and UnitedFuture’s outdoors spokesman Alan Simmons compliment them on their foresight though we have to admit to being a little surprised at their capitulation in conceding this policy to UnitedFuture without even engaging in a negotiation battle on this issue”, said Mr Dunne.

“In May at the Hutchwilco Boat Show, I announced that UnitedFuture if part of the next Government will establish recreational fishing only reserves around the country. I was proud that UnitedFuture adopted this as our policy following consultation with the recreational fishing sector last year.

"We worked hard on this policy and it is a little disappointing that the National Party is now trying to present it as their policy. But we will have to return to the negotiating table on this issue as we won't be restricting it to the two areas announced by National" said Mr Simmons.

“What with New Zealand First’s Winston Peters trying to steal UnitedFuture’s ‘common sense‘ brand as their election slogan and now National attempting to requisition our recreational fishing policy, clearly UnitedFuture is the only party providing good ideas in the otherwise barren landscape of
political inspiration”, said Mr Dunne.

ENDS

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