Fishery Officers Between Farmers And Maori

“The Government response to conflict between the Crown, farmers and Maori over the foreshore issue is to ask Fishery Officers to wear stab proof vests and patrol in pairs,” said Nadine Marshall, Secretary of the National Union of Public Employees (NUPE). “This is patently inadequate and is placing Fishery Officers in some Regions in an unsafe workplace.”

“Last week Fishery Officers faced public threats to focus Maori anger at the ‘appropriate people’ and ‘in this case it should be directed at Government Officials who are trying to come onto our beaches and we should ban them, block them, boot them off, whatever we can do to get our message across’. (Ken Mair). This type of action against Fishery Officers will be a high risk once the Government foreshore decision is announced this week,” said Nadine Marshall.

“Fishery Officers also have to go onto foreshore land that farmers believe they have property rights to and similarly face confrontation in that regard,” said Nadine Marshall. “In the light of the threats made, the Government answer to effectively reduce compliance activity by fifty per cent by recommending Fishery Officers patrol in pairs and to provide stab proof vests is totally inadequate.”

“Fishery Officers faced an already dangerous situation without adequate resources due to the Government’s focus for 12 months on the Scampi Inquiry to the exclusion of Fishery Officers’ safety and conditions,” said Nadine Marshall. Statement of Interest: NUPE is claiming a pay increase for Fishery Officers and Investigators by what MPs recently received – around 20%. Fishery Officers currently earn between $35,000 and $49,000 and Investigators about 15% more .

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