October 2026 - 253 The Fishing paper and Hunting News by The Fishing Paper

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OCTOBER 2026 Issue 253

Dawnbreakers Fishing Club - Open Day

The Future of Recreational Fishing Looks Good • Bad Hare Day - Kim Swan - pg 2 • Wild weather Moki with Johnny Tightlines - pg 3 • To Catch a Thief - pg 4 & 5

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THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - OCTOBER 2026

There’s a high-country hare up ahead, body upright and whiskers twitching. I am speeding towards him in pre-dawn gloom. Not open highway, tar seal and white lines type speeding. No. More gravel road, potholes and boob-bouncing corrugations type speeding.

Yep, I’m traveling at 50kph, and the hare thinks my approaching ute is the second scariest monster he has ever seen. Illuminated by my headlights, the other scary monster is directly behind him – its black and its hare-like shape stands between him and freedom. The black monster blocks his every move. Terrified, he sidesteps left and right. Then, as the ute gets ever closer, he extends to full stretch and tries to outsprint the monsters behind and ahead. Stones flick from beneath his hairy paws and his heart-rate accelerates but he cannot escape the perceived perils. Eventually tiring, he zigs and zags, his ears and tail pressed down to improve his aerodynamics. His shadow, for the black monster is his shadow, sticks with him. Finally, a familiar farm gate offers an escape route. As he dodges sideways both monsters are shaken off. He slows, then props stiff-legged and tall. Crisis averted, he lives another day. Tender shoots of spring growth are most nutritious alongside the road verge. Disturbed soils and gravel run-off make for prime pickings and hare after harried hare dodges and dances with their shadows as I hurry inland. Headlights announce my impending arrival - taillights indicate that danger has safely passed. It seems only yesterday that wintery frosts had whitened the landscape on mornings like this - now the temperature sits at a balmy ten degrees, and the blazing sun jumps from the

Bad Hare Day

horizon, ascending at speed. Only yesterday that I could meander about the mountains all day long – now hunts are handicapped by escalating heat.

gully, all winter it has been in perma-frost but now, miraculously, it is green and lush. There is paradise duck shit and possum shit and the splayed prints of

Nek minnit it will be summer. Outings limited and shortened; the dogs will lose their match fitness and muscle tone. Like every other creature which has come through a tough winter they will get fat and live life at a more leisurely pace. So today is the beginning of the end – one of the last adventures of our prime pig hunting season. I am aware too, that Old Chop cannot go on forever. Though no-one has the heart to tell Chop that! Kitted-up, I strike off up a tight

playful fallow deer. Higher up there are distinctive goat marks, young billies venturing in search of new territory. But there are no pig marks, no rooting nor sign. We contour on forest tracks, detour out onto sunny spurs vegetated in porcupine scrub, matagouri and lawyer. We poke up clover-floored gutters, and we use all our senses - the dogs excel at ‘sniff’ while I cover the ‘see’ and ‘listen’ efficiently. None of us is perfect, but together the three dogs and I have nearly a century of hunting experience. Old age has its downfalls, but it also has its advantages. ‘You can call us old boy, but you can’t call us stupid!’. The boar we find is not stupid either. He camps far from the weaners my questing ear had heard earlier – avoiding the unwelcome attention they attract. And his bed is high above the land both gentle and green. Up here he can hear the approach of hardworking dogs, it gives him time to do his warmup stretches and to tie the laces of his best trail running shoes. Said boar is fully prepared as

The Fishing Paper & Hunting News Editor: editor@thefishingpaper.co.nz Sub-Editor: Mike Brown All Enquiries: Nicola Morris 0224 503 403 admin@thefishingpaper.co.nz Printer: Inkwise Advertising Enquiries: Lynda Balfour North Island Lynda@thefishingpaper.co.nz 027 710 1510 Phil Claude

South Island

Phil@thefishingpaper.co.nz 021 242 4202

Kim Swan

The Fishing Paper & Hunting News is published by Four Winds Media Ltd. All editorial copy and photographs are subject to copyright and may not be reproduced without prior written permission of the publisher. Opinions or comments expressed within this publication are not necessarily those of the staff, management or directors of Four Winds Media Ltd. Unsolicited editorial, letters, photographs will only be returned if you include a stamped self addressed envelope.

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the dogs track uphill. He stands still and silent – hackles up and go-juice percolating. And when he’s sure that they are indeed tracking him, he rockets away from the site. Perhaps he waited a moment too long. Perhaps the dogs fluked a one-way street or no-exit alley. There is a collision, fang on ham, then after a moment of indecision, two battle against one. Circling bodies bounce off trees; a dozen feet dislodge rocks and leaf litter. Old Chop bolts up from below while the threesome spin and slide downwards. He joins his teammates, holding hard. Three now battle against one. It begins to rain. An immaculately timed southerly squall adds to the drama. I’m not sure who’s side it’s on. It doesn’t cover the sound of battle because there is no sound. There is just puffing along with the odd grunt or growl. The dogs and I know the battle is not yet won. The boar knows the battle is not yet lost. The win will go to he who fights the hardest or to he who gets lucky. Is it luck, that between the old boar’s daybed and the gentle and green lands below, is a bluff system? Is it luck that, despite being hard held, he drags himself bodily towards those bluffs? I think not. ‘Call him old boy, but don’t call him stupid’. Self-preservation means that the boar is prepared to drag himself over the edge of the rocky dropoff and free-fall. His nuggety body, thick shield and wedge shape see him land safely and scramble to his feet. That same self-preservation means that the dogs are not prepared to dive headlong into the abyss. Instead, they relinquish their grip and find a route that is safer but a minute slower. That minute makes the difference - the boar now on turbo boost, following well known trails to falter is to fail. Down he goes, down and down. Along the way he contours through the family living quarters. He’s not there to say a fond farewell to the wives and kids. They will be his sacrifice and his saviour – and, a minute later, so they are. A weaner begins to squeal; the dogs hold it tight. In a clearing below, the gnarly boar bounds through, hackles and tail high, his freedom earned, my respect for him immense.

Club Open Day Dawnbreakers Fishing Club

With September rolling around, Dawnbreakers Fishing Club Nelson kicked off with it’s annual pre-season event – the Club Open Day. Although blustery, the weather was still good enough for the kids to play outside and join in activities like our casting comp, so no postponements this year. There were plenty of chocolate fish to be had and, once again plenty of new faces to be seen at the Stoke Rugby Club – Greenmeadows venue. Of course it was also awesome to see so many returning familiar faces also. As usual, plenty of spot prizes were on offer for members and the ever popular sausage sizzle. Coastguard Nelson, MPI and customs came along, to explain their roles in safe, enjoyable water activities and update us on changes to rules and regulations. Speaking of rules, Gareth updated every one on a change to our competition rules. Previously any legal fish of any size could be entered, the minimum size for entries is 30cm and must be of legal size. Anything smaller and legal can of course be kept at the anglers discretion but they don't count towards Club points.

Alex Kroch & Jarvis Maxwell from MPI - Fisheries Nz

Issue 253 3

Yolande Jeffares

Sally Warlow & Crystal Gaiger from Coastguard Nelson. Crystal, a long time Dawnbreakers

member and often tireless committee member, is a finalist for Coastguard Volunteer of the Year - congratulations Crystal

Club President Gareth Nicholson with the Early Bird Membership prize draw winner Steve Ellis

The club has boat, land and kayak sections and we are always happy to consider other sections if there are enough members to justify a section of their own. We also have men’s, women’s and junior sections so end of year prizes are well distributed throughout our members . Dawnbreakers offers a wide range of benefits to local fishers with all levels of experience. More experienced members are very generous with

Wild Weather Moki

their time and knowledge and club trips away throughout the season are organised by Committee. Club social days are held monthly where guest speakers share their insights. Many local businesses offer Dawnbreakers members a discount upon presentation of their card. The official start of the season is October 1st and the events calendar begins with a club trip to Pohara and then we will see the return of the Snapper Cup before Christmas. For more information head over to www.dawnbreakers.co.nz or jump onto the Facebook page. Cover photo is Keely happily exploring her spot prize.

Johnny Tightlines

It was one of those wild Ocean beach, Wairarapa days, where the wind cuts sideways and the surf looks more like a washing machine than a beach. Sometimes you’ve just got to tough it out. We stood there getting hammered by wind and spray, sand in our teeth, thinking this is madness. Then out of nowhere bang! Line loads up, rod bends over, and boom! A beautiful big moki. These fish are hard scrappers! Moments like that make it all worth it. The kind of day where the elements test you, and if you stick it out, they reward you. Rod- 14 foot Finor surfcasting rod Braid -50lb Leader - 40lb flurocarbon Bait- mussels wrapped with @ blackmagictackle bait elastic. (very important) Tackle - 3/0 pink flasher 2 hook rig.

Tightlines!

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THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - OCTOBER 2026

To Catch a Thief

$V ZH PRYH LQWR WKH EXV\ 6XPPHU ¿VKLQJ DQG GLYH DFWLYLWLHV LQGXVWU\ FRPPHQWDWRU 'DU\O 6\NHV KLJKOLJKWV D SUREOHP IRU DOO OHJLWLPDWH URFN OREVWHU ¿VKHUPHQ DQG ZRPHQ A blackmarket in rock

or a reef - but it would take an

market is clearly willing to buy. A

limit.

enormously high level of thieving

primary concern is that in some

Recreational-fishing offending

to adversely impact on the

areas a blackmarket continues

in New Zealand is subject to an

resource itself. Such high levels

to flourish. Community members

escalating enforcement regime.

of illegal activity are unlikely to

who perhaps unwittingly support

Minor prescribed breaches may

occur. It would be too obvious

the activities of fish thieves are

be addressed through education,

and legitimate commercial

undervaluing their fisheries and

warning, or infringement notices—

operators are constantly vigilant

sanctioning a loss of legitimate

commonly $250 for take above a

for fish thieves.

fishing opportunity.

daily limit but not exceeding twice

Fish thieves give industry

Penalties for fish thieving can be

that limit, and $500 where take

members a bad public profile

harsh.

exceeds twice but not three times

because reports of fish thieving

Commercial fishermen convicted

the limit.

normally refer to “commercial”

of illegal fishing offences will

More serious, repeated, or

quantities of rock lobster - the

forfeit fishing vessels and quota,

deliberate offending can result

inference being that (legitimate)

plus incur substantial financial

in prosecution, court fines of

commercial fishermen are

penalties - a $250,000 fine

up to $10,000 or $20,000

legitimate non-commercial

cheating the system. The

could apply. Fish thieves who

for specified amateur-fishing

(amateur and customary)

inference is invariably wrong,

are not commercial fishermen

offences, confiscation of fish

users are deprived of fishing

but the public perception of

(i.e. have no quota/ACE or

and equipment, and fishing

commercial fishermen can be

fishing permit) will face the same

prohibitions. The Fisheries Act

somewhat coloured in any event.

penalties if convicted of dealing

also provides substantially higher

There is no evidence of rock

in commercial quantities of rock

sanctions for certain serious and

lobsters taken by fish thieves

lobster. The Fisheries Act defines

repeat offending, including fines

being exported – the NZ domestic

a “commercial quantity” as being

up to $250,000 and, for relevant

market is the target, and that

seven times the amateur daily bag

offences, imprisonment.

lobsters has several direct and indirect effects on legitimate customary, recreational and commercial fishermen and women. In the commercial world there are the obvious issues of price-cutting and unfair competition in the market place, but the real impacts are perhaps more subtle. The cost of constraining the illegal activity is borne primarily by commercial operators, but

opportunity and the potential quality of their fishing experience. Estimated catches taken by fish thieves are factored into annual stock assessments and management decisions. When making allowances for legitimate shares of the fishery the Minister of Fisheries makes provision for fish thieving before confirming the commercial quotas (Total Allowable Commercial Catch TACC). In effect, the legitimate commercial operators are being forced to make restitution for the activities of the thieves. This is a unique but entirely inequitable way to ensure the continued sustainability of lobster fisheries. Fish thieves care little for quality and hygiene, and their activities could damage the hard-won reputation that NZ rock lobsters have in domestic and export markets. Fish thieves ensure that the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Compliance and Enforcement budget stays high. A significant proportion of that Compliance budget is recovered from the rock lobster industry by way of statutory government levies. Fish thieves can certainly deplete stocks in localised areas - a bay

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Issue 253 5

To Catch a Thief - cont

$V ZH PRYH LQWR WKH EXV\ 6XPPHU ¿VKLQJ DQG GLYH DFWLYLWLHV LQGXVWU\ FRPPHQWDWRU 'DU\O 6\NHV KLJKOLJKWV D SUREOHP IRU DOO OHJLWLPDWH URFN OREVWHU ¿VKHUPHQ DQG ZRPHQ Fisheries New Zealand’s recently reported 94% recreational compliance rate should not be interpreted as a population estimate that only 6% of recreational fishers are noncompliant. It is an operational statistic derived from nearly 13,000 summer catch inspections, expressed as instances of noncompliance detected during inspection. Inspection activity is targeted and the published measure does not identify the number of individual offenders, the number of offending trips, repeat offending, or the quantity of unlawful catch. Nonetheless, even a low singledigit rate can be significant when applied to the scale of the sector. Using the National Panel Survey estimate of approximately 1.2 million annual marine recreational fishing trips, a hypothetical 6% non-compliant-trip rate would equate to about 72,000 noncompliant trips annually. If each involved only two unlawfully retained fish or shellfish on average, this would amount to approximately 144,000 items per year; if each involved a six-item daily-limit equivalent, the figure would rise to approximately

432,000 items. These are scenario estimates, not measured estimates of illegal take, but they demonstrate why aggregate compliance effects require careful consideration in recreational-fisheries management. Given that Ministry estimates of illegal unreported removals of rock lobsters have been consistent over time, and the fact that numbers of repeat offenders are apprehended, it might be argued that the heavy penalties themselves are no incentive for proper compliance with fisheries

rules. The problem may well sit with the judiciary, who often seem reluctant to impose the full weight of penalties against noncommercial fishermen. The penalties could also perhaps serve as a huge incentive for offenders to be strongly defending fisheries charges and judges have shown themselves to be persuaded by pleas of poverty, ignorance of the law, or extenuating circumstances which at face value appear improbable to those who know fishing and fisheries.

Looking over the gear for a start is a good option and that might include the boat, you can of course tie more flies, but you can’t do that for months on end until the sun gets higher in the sky. So what else will keep your enthusiasm for fishing at a reasonable level? Maybe books? If you’re anything at all like me you might have a collection of fishing books that you have put together over the

In the meantime – 0800 4 Poacher (08004476224) MPI asks callers to provide, where safely possible: Exact location and time Vehicle and trailer registration Vessel name or other identifying details Description of people involved Species, approximate quantity, fishing method, and direction of travel Photos or video, if taken without confronting anyone or putting oneself at risk MPI says reports and personal details are treated as confidential. Do not approach or confront suspected offenders; personal safety comes first.

Winter Fishing Activities The season of mellow fruitfulness slipped by, winter’s chill crept in, so what did you do when the weather went into cold mode? I know some of you will hit the water and “chase rainbows” in the latter stages of the cold season and personally I have had some very good days with brownies on water that remains open over Winter, but more on that shortly. However when the winds blow and rain spatters on the window panes there are other fishy activities to get involved in.

The second problem may be that MPI does not consistently capitalise on successful prosecutions and draw the attention of the community at large to the level of penalties imposed on offenders.

years. For a start they would have been of an instructional purpose – the “how to,” “what to” sort of book. Writers who have helped inspire me include George Ferris who mentored many people into fishing through his writings and also personal tuition. He was active in this manner around the 50s and 60s and as a kid I had the good fortune to have him check my licence one Saturday, alongside a North Canterbury stream, which happened to be one of his favoured locations. If you can secure a copy of “The Trout are Rising,” you’ll find it interesting and informative from both an instructional and historical viewpoint. Later you might have begun to enjoy reading about other angler’s experiences and their descriptions of places not yet visited by you. Norman Marsh was another who was helpful and told a good tale, plus there were a host of other angling writers of that era who shared their thoughts, insights and humour. More recently and

Coastlines Ivan Wilson

and the landscapes of his favoured part of the country in Central Otago, where he and good mates Dave Witherow and Kevin Ireland (both also fine writers) roamed and fished. I used the term “inspiring” and if you read Brian’s “Into the Wider World,” you’ll get the idea – it’s a stunning fishing book that’s not altogether about fishing, containing wonderful humour, along with thoughts on human and corporate avarice, as sights were set on changing the Central Otago landscape for the better of very few. PTO - pg 6 into this century, people such as Derek Grzelewski have provided reading pleasure, then there is the inspiring Brian Turner who wrote with such passion about angling

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THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - OCTOBER 2026

Norm Hawler sees the Funny Side It’s supposed to be Spring but down in the Bay we are stuck in the four seasons in one day weather pattern. Today I have the fire going and the dog is curled up on his blanket. Yesterday I was stripped to the waist (not a pretty sight at my age) putting battens on a fence whilst the old dog pretended he could catch a few rabbits. Who knows what the weatherman will serve up for us tomorrow …

The sea has been a bit rough for fishing and the water far too dirty for diving and I gave the whitebaiting away a few years ago when the legs couldn’t hold me up for the day. The seafood diet is therefore on hold and for the time being I have been sampling whatever I can find in the pantry topped off with fresh veggies out of my garden. And I have been catching up on my reading too – looking back over some old favourites and getting into some new stuff, some of which I have been reading online. Strike me lucky the world is turning isn’t it? That internet is just full of self-styled influencers and persons with opinions, many of whom are woefully short on facts. That’s always a good test of what you’re reading – find what your author is saying about something you really know about. If they have that wrong then you can be sure they have most other

topics wrong as well. Like most blokes I do enjoy a bit of homespun humour – Barry Crump and Fred Dagg had some great observations about life in New Zealand. I was rummaging through my bookshelf last night and found a notebook with a few fishing tales of my own that I collected many years ago. I hope these bring a smile to your dial. Lobster Tale #1 A gentleman accompanied by his small fox terrier once visited his fishmonger. Seeing some live lobsters on the counter he asked if they were fresh. “Fresh!” exclaimed the fishmonger,

“just put your dog’s tail near one of their claws and you’ll soon see if they’re not fresh enough”. Tickled with the idea, the dog’s tail was instantly presented to the largest of those very fine lobsters which quickly seized it and held on tightly. Down jumped the dog, howling loudly - and off he ran homeward with the lobster still attached to his tail. “Whistle your dog back sir; call him back!” cried the fishmonger. “I will not” said the old gentleman, “you whistle your lobster back!” And off he went, homeward bound.

Catch you next month folks.

Winter Fishing Activities cont Of late I have availed myself of a story based around a river in Southland I fished as a young chap, the Mataura. Dougal Rillstone is from the fine town of Gore with it’s massive trout statue and he got his first fish in the river there in the early 50s. In later life he decided to walk it’s length from the ocean to it’s source in the mountains and along the way he reflected on his fly fishing friendships, experiences with rod in hand, his love of the river and it’s tributaries, plus he highlights the need to protect threatened waterways such as his favoured one. “Upstream on the Mataura,” is his colourful record of the 240 kilometres walk up his much loved river. Oh and if you happen upon a Mataura rise, have some tiny black gnats and your heart pills handy! But fishing is still very much a viable option in winter. Here in

Lobster Tale #2 Old Jack was an old retired farmer of rather dilapidated appearance whose scruffy singlet was occasionally seen peeping through his well-worn shirt and whose elbows insisted on struggling through his coat sleeves to daylight. Old Jack was very fond of lobsters and took it into his head one day to price some of them at the fish market. Attracted by one particularly large one he asked of the middle-aged lady behind the counter “how much for the lobster?” “Fifty dollars” she replied. “Fifty dollars! Whew – that is a big price. I suppose that lobster is good and fresh though?” said Old Jack “Fresh?” said the lady behind the counter, “why, can’t you see that it is alive mister?” “Alive!” exclaimed Old Jack, “you reckon it is fresh just because it is alive? Bless your heart dear, that doesn’t prove nothin’. We are both of us alive but neither of us is fresh anymore!”

the West Coast Region we get some wonderful days, because the oft-blowing southerlies that bring wet, cold, miserable weather to the Eastern side of the South island, have blown themselves out and dropped their moisture over there. What we get in the wake of their misfortune, is clear blue skies, the mere hint of a soft air movement from the south and quite reasonable temperatures. Does that seem a bit smug? It’s not meant to be, but I endured Christchurch weather for my first 23 years and my father used to say winter is six months long in Canterbury. He was right and it could rain for weeks no, not rain, drizzle, with a cold wind from the east, south-east, south, or south-west. It was fun riding the 4 miles (6.4 kays) into that on the way to school each day. The milder conditions were but one of

Coastlines

the factors that made us decide to stay on The Coast after being transferred here so long ago. So Coast fishing conditions in winter are conducive to some

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Ivan Wilson

good days out – the leaves might be well gone from the deciduous trees, but there are still fish to target that haven’t gone away to spawn. A truly magnificent day to go out is after one of the rare frosts we get and the still air is refreshing, the mountains with their snow caps stand out in the distance, while closer in, the bush glistens in the sunshine and fish can be spotted in the clear, clean water of Lake Brunner which remains open over winter. I quite often have the lake entirely to myself, which is another bonus. So don’t write off your piscatorial pursuits when it gets cold, check out what water is open and watch the weather charts, but if you can’t get a break, consider a visit to The Coast, it might just be a life changing event.

Issue 253 7

%\ODZV IRU /\WWHOWRQ :KDNDUDXSŇ PćWDLWDL WR SURWHFW VXVWDLQDELOLW\ New rules for Whakaraupō/

“The prohibition on commercial

Lyttelton Harbour and nearby Rāpaki will support sustainable fisheries for the long-term benefit of tangata whenua, recreational fishers, and the local community, says Allen Frazer, Fisheries New Zealand’s

A prohibition on the take of

east-fishing-rules) or by using the

fishing in the mātaitai reserves

blue and red cod, butterfish,

free NZ Fishing Rules app.

remains in place.”

blue moki, conger eel, crabs,

Fishers who are transiting through

For the Whakaraupō mātaitai

and oysters.

the area with fish in excess of the

A new minimum legal size for

mātaitai reserve limits must be able

Lyttelton Harbour, the new bylaws

tuaki and pipi of 40mm, and

to provide evidence that the fish

include:

green-lip mussel of 70mm.

were legally taken from outside of

A gathering prohibition for all

the mātaitai.

native seaweeds.

“Ongoing surveys will be

and its extension, which covers

•

The rules were proposed as

•

bylaws for existing mātaitai in the areas to strengthen local

•

pāua, tuaki (cockles), pipi,

Manager Inshore Fisheries South.

A reduction in daily limits for

•

flounder, and kahawai.

For the Rāpaki mātaitai, the new

conducted by Te Tiaki Mahinga Kai

A new vessel limit for pāua,

bylaws include:

to assess the performance of the

applying to the person in

•

A prohibition on the take of

bylaws over time,” Mr Frazer says.

charge of the vessel.

shellfish, flounder, blue and

“We thank the tangata tiaki for

An increase in the minimum

red cod, butterfish, moki,

management of the fishery.

their role in the management of

legal size for pāua to 130mm,

conger eel, rig, and kahawai.

these customary fishing areas, and

“The adoption of these bylaws

and a gathering prohibition for

These are in addition to bylaws

everyone who made a submission

follows a public consultation, and

pāua in Gollans Bay, Northeast

that were already in place for

to the public consultation.”

from 1 October they will apply to

Quail Island/Otamahua, and

the mātaitai. You can see the full

The new mātaitai bylaws come

recreational fishing in the mātaitai,”

Livingston Bay to Godley

rules on Fisheries New Zealand’s

into force on 1 October 2026.

Mr Frazer says.

Head.

website (https://mpi.govt.nz/south-

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THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - OCTOBER 2026

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Issue 253 9

Election Year Have your SAY!

From the July 2026 issue we will be ONLINE ONLY during the winter months - so there will not be a paper available at your local supplier - the only way to access the Fishing Paper will be online.

PISTOL

Yep, it’s a serious time, especially for those of us who hold a firearms licence or believe in people having a fair go.

SHOOTING Brian Bishop

While we now have a new Firearms Act, the opposition parties haven’t stopped talking about how much they dislike various parts of it. They seem determined that the police should have full control of the new organisation, Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand (FSE). I strongly disagree with that approach.

Nicola admin@thefishingpaper.co.nz

freedoms have been restricted or taken away simply because someone else has decided they know better than we do. Personal choice has been slowly chipped away. Look at smoking. Huge taxes have been placed on cigarettes because governments have decided that smoking is bad for us. I personally don’t smoke, so it doesn’t affect me, but I question the principle of using such high taxes to discourage adults from making their own choices.

My concern is that the police have a mindset and training focused on dealing with criminals—the 2–5% of the population who break the law— not honest people who are simply trying to navigate the rules and do the right thing. Both Labour and the Greens have made comments about putting the police back into the mix.

It’s a bit like golf. Personally, I think a golf course is a waste of a perfectly good shooting range, but I haven’t tried to close all the golf clubs down. If you want to walk around hitting a little ball and then spend time looking for the damn thing, that’s your choice—not mine.

I believe this election will be particularly important for firearms owners and others who value personal responsibility and individual choice. I still don’t agree with the way Labour changed how firearms licences are viewed. When we apply for a licence, we are now effectively being told that it is a privilege rather than a right. The problem I have with that thinking is that if the government decides it doesn’t like us or what we stand for, it has greater power to take that privilege away.

That’s the point: let people make their own choices where they are not harming others. Let’s get back to treating people as adults, not as children who are incapable of making decisions for themselves. And when it comes to firearms, I believe we should restore the principle that responsible, lawabiding people have a right to own firearms.

To me, if I have done nothing wrong and have not committed serious offences, why should I be denied a firearms licence? We in New Zealand have stood by while too many of our rights and

For me ACT gets my Party vote, the stronger they are the better than help us.

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Fishers who took too much pāua, scallops and shrimp, and one who sold raffle tickets for a recreationally caught seafood prize, have been fined thousands of dollars. “People who choose to ignore the fishing rules need to know there will be consequences,” says Fisheries New Zealand’s Director of Fisheries Compliance, Steve Ham. “Our job is to protect fishing resources so that everyone can enjoy the opportunity to put fresh kaimoana on the dinner the table.” The following cases were before the courts over the past month. A 51-year-old Oamaru man was fined $750 in the Oamaru District Court for taking 32 pāua from Bushey Beach. The man had his catch inspected in January this year. The daily limit per person in this area for taking pāua is 10 at a minimum size of 125mm. A 25-year-old Oamaru man was fined $1400 in the Oamaru District Court for taking 53 pāua from a reef near Kakanui. All were

undersize. He had his catch inspected by Fishery Officers in February. The daily limit per person for taking pāua is 10 at a minimum size of 125mm. Three Taranaki men, aged 48, 55 and 43, were each fined $1300 in the New Plymouth District Court for taking seafood from a closed area. They had their catch inspected by Fishery Officers in January at reef at Pungarehu. Between them, they had 35 pāua, of which 34 were under the minimum size of 85mm. They also had 142 cats’ eyes and four sea snails. A 44-year-old Lower Hutt man was ordered to do 80 hours' community work by the Hutt Valley District Court for taking 54 pāua. The man had his catch inspected in November at Miramar Peninsula. All pāua were undersize. The daily limit per person is five pāua at a minimum size of 125mm. A 40-year-old Wellington woman was fined $1800 in the Porirua District Court for taking 49 pāua from the West Coast. All pāua were undersize. The woman had her catch inspected in

December. The daily limit per person is five at a minimum size of 125mm. A 37-year-old Waimarama man was fined $4000 in the Hastings District Court for selling recreationally caught seafood through a raffle. The man was caught by Fishery Officers in 2024. The seafood included a 25kg bin of kina and two 500-gram bags of minced pāua. The man made $1260 from the raffle. It is illegal to sell recreationally caught seafood. A 57-year-old Milton man was fined $1200 in the Dunedin District Court for taking 30 pāua from Taieri Island. He had his catch inspected in May. The daily limit per person for taking pāua in this area is 10 at a minimum size of 125mm.

A 39-year-old Patea man was fined $1100 in the Hawera District Court for taking 44 pāua, of which 12 were undersize. The man was stopped by Fishery Officers in November. He had been gathering shellfish at a reef in Ōpunake. The daily limit per person for taking pāua in this area is five at a minimum size of 85mm. “If you’re unsure of the fishing rules in the area you plan to fish, get the most up-to-date fishing rules by downloading the free NZ Fishing Rules mobile app. It will also work if you are fishing in an area with limited mobile coverage,” says Mr Ham. We encourage people to report any suspected illegal activity through the Ministry for Primary Industries’ 0800 4 POACHER line (0800 476 224).

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