Press release 29/9/2015
Outdoors Party - A New Political Party Based on Strong Values
A new political party based on strong outdoor values and principles has been launched by well known outdoorsman Alan
Simmons of Turangi with a surge of support coming in.
In the first week of the announcement membership applications had been flooding in said Turangi-based interim leader
Alan Simmons with a lifetime of the outdoors behind him.
“I'm thrilled New Zealanders obviously realise the need for such a party as I do in launching it.”
The formation of the party reflected his concerns about the environment and erosion of New Zealanders’ outdoor heritage.
“I want to inject the words positive and sensible conservation into the political debate about our finite resources
while focussing on the sort of world we are leaving for future generations. I don’t want smokescreens or red herrings
which we’ve all seen too much of. Frankly Nero fiddles while Rome burns is so apt today."
The Outdoors Party will be focussed strongly on the outdoor heritage of clean rivers, healthy fisheries and public
ownership of fish and game but many other issues that affect the outdoors, environment and quality of life will come
into play too,” said Alan Simmons.
He spelt out four basic aspects to the new party:-
1. The party’s aim will be to advocate, lobby and develop policy based on protecting and enhancing the public ownership
of the New Zealand outdoors environment without the intrusion of extreme green views.
2. The party would not oppose development providing such development was a "wise use" of that resource and did not
detrimentally impact on the environment.
3. The party would concentrate on its key policy areas around protecting the environment and the New Zealand outdoor way
of life with little or no emphasis on economic and other areas that small parties have little or no influence on.
4. The New Zealand way of life has always been strongly based around our outdoors heritage and the wonderful community
support that is uniquely New Zealand. This will be our mission to protect and enhance those values.
Alan Simmons, with a life time of outdoor interests in sea and trout fishing and hunting, said he believed a political
party needed to adhere to principles and not be compromised as too many other parties had leading to voter
dissatisfaction.
“We want to only engage in its area of expertise in a positive manner. Our role will be to develop and engage in
alternative ideas showing a positive way forward."
Alan Simmons said current key issues for the party would be such as water quality and keeping freshwater fresh, climate
change, land use changes, encouraging alternatives to pine forest monoculture such as planting of manuka forest, fishing
both recreational and commercial, rural issues such as loss of rural communities, aquaculture, clean farming methods and
alternatives value-added crops, access issues endangered by foreign ownership, trout farming, helihunting and in general
promote the egalitarian principles New Zealand was founded on.
Membership would be encouraged from all outdoor groups such as trampers, anglers, hunters, biking enthusiasts, boaties
and mountain clubs. However anyone with an environmental conscience such as farmers, those concerned about climate
change, or just with a general love of the outdoors, bush and mountains would find the party a refreshing political
approach.
“By being a broad centre of the road party we would hope to attract people from a number of outdoors groups including
everyday New Zealanders who are just sensible conservationists."