Minister Right to Give Fish & Game a Serve
28 JULY 2014
Reacting to Radio New Zealand’s report concerning allegations that Conservation Minister Nick Smith warned the Fish and Game Council that it acts like a
'rabid NGO', Jordan Williams, Executive Director of the Taxpayers’ Union says:
“We agree with the Minister that the election campaigning of Fish and Game is a gross breach of faith for a statutory
body."
"If a group of fishermen want to create an offshoot of the Green Party good on them – but they should pay for
campaigning out of their own pocket not use statutory powers to charge for licences to fund political lobbying.”
“Nick Smith is right to be concerned that Fish and Game use its fishing tax to fund billboards endorsing the Green
Party. Until Fish and Game put an end to taxpayer funded political campaigning, it should not be entitled to receive
income from compulsory fishing and hunting licenses."
ENDS