Organisational health check timely: Sage announces Fish & Game review

After 30 years, Fish & Game will undergo a targeted ministerial review into the governance of Fish & Game New Zealand and regional Fish & Game councils, minister of conservation, Eugenie Sage, announced today.

Earlier in March, there were reports of the government planning an independent review of the statutory agency responsible for managing most of New Zealand’s game bird hunting and freshwater fishing for species such as trout and salmon.

The government confirmed it today.

“The laws governing Fish & Game were enacted some 30 years ago. An organisational health check is timely to make sure Fish and Game’s governance and organisational arrangements are fit for purpose today,” said Sage.

Former Law Commission member and former secretary for justice Belinda Clark and former environment court commissioner John Mills are the two independent experts appointed to undertake the review.

“The review is limited to a health check of the governance of Fish and Game. It is not a review of Fish and Game’s statutory roles or functions. Interested parties, including licence holders, will be able to provide their views to the review panel,” Sage said.

Read more: Fish & Game to undergo review

Review welcomed

On Wednesday, 10 June, Fish & Game New Zealand said they were welcoming the review announced by the government.

Fish and Game chair Paul Shortis said they were “looking forward to working with the panel” on the review.

“This review offers the chance to reflect on thirty years of Fish & Game’s work and to ensure we are best placed to maximise the opportunities for game bird hunters and freshwater anglers in the coming years,” Shortis said.

It is anticipated that the review panel will produce a report by the end of 2020.