NELSON MARLBOROUGH 2015 FISH & GAME COUNCIL ELECTION Candidate Profiles Listed in this booklet are the profile statements for each candidate for the 2015 Council election pursuant to regulation 10 of the Fish & Game Council Elections Regulations 1990. The Returning Officer of the Nelson Marlborough Fish & Game Council accepts no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the content contained in the statements as supplied by the candidates. 2 CONTENTS ANDERSON Jim WAIRAU NORTH 4 BAIGENT Owen WAIMEA/BULLER 4 BLACKMORE Robin WAIRAU SOUTH 5 BORENSTEIN Felix WAIMEA/BULLER 5 CASH W F (Bill) BLENHEIM 6 CUDBY Carey WAIRAU SOUTH 6 DIXON-DIDIER Paul MOTUEKA/GOLDEN BAY 7 HAYNES David NELSON 7 HOLMES Steve NELSON 8 IRVINE Geoff NELSON 8 JARY Marc MOTUEKA/GOLDEN BAY 9 KROOS Tom NELSON 9 SUTHERLAND Ian WAIMEA/BULLER 10 WEBBER Alistair MOTUEKA/GOLDEN BAY 10 WEST Russell BLENHEIM 11 WILLIS Jean (John) NELSON 11 3 ANDERSON Jim WAIRAU NORTH I am 59 years of age with two adult daughters. • am current Fish & Game councillor having served on your council for the last twelve years • reside in the Kaemiko Valley, 5km south of Picton • raised in South Otago and began angling over 50 years ago on the Clutha River and surrounding waterways • moved to Marlborough in 1979, self-employed since 1981 and also flew commercially in and around the Marlborough Sounds for 18 years. Currently semi-retired • served as President of Marlborough Freshwater Anglers Club, founding member and still current committee member of Save the Wairau. Made submissions and spoke to them at hearings for Trustpower’s application for its hydro electric power scheme in Marlborough and attended all associated environmental court hearings on the same issues • attended many regional and district council meetings and forums representing anglers interests, especially concerning minimum or sustainable flows for instream habitat for our fisheries as the last few years have seen Fish & Game grapple with some major issues of continuing pressure on water resources • I have an intense interest in promoting win/win outcomes for the protection and enhancement of our fisheries especially the fragile back country areas and if elected will work to promote and increase the profile of Fish & Game as a statutory authority within local government. BAIGENT Owen WAIMEA/BULLER I would like to offer my service once again to be elected to the Nelson/Marlborough Fish & Game Council. I am currently a sitting councillor (three terms), the previous three years as chairman. Being a keen trout fisherman and also a game bird hunter, I find it easy to represent both factions. After 22 years in the transport industry, I have now semi- retired into farming and therefore have a sound knowledge of the district and its environs. If re-elected I will continue to strive to preserve for the future generations what our previous councillors have preserved for us. Yours sincerely Owen Baigent 4 BLACKMORE Robin WAIRAU SOUTH My working background is in conservation management over forty three years; I am now retired and have time to devote to F&G as a councillor. I have served twenty four years on your Council to date and I still feel I have the energy and time to devote to improving your fisheries and game bird hunting opportunities. The issues over the next three years are going to be just as challenging as the last. Conservation Orders and the RMA are under threat and I am committed to ensuring the future of river and wetland protection as this benefits the whole nation. These are not secured without significant effort and expense by Fish & Game but I believe it is good use of license holder’s money, without habitat our sports cannot flourish. I will continue to ensure your Council’s involvement in the RMA process as appropriate. There are many issues F&G must be awake to, expansion of intensive farming, inappropriate hydro schemes, and excessive irrigation takes are all at the expense of environmental values and I will do my best to ensure best outcomes for F&G. Without a secure and sustainable environment our economic future will not progress. I am committed to working to safeguard F&G’s future and to serve the interests of license holders to the best of my ability. BORENSTEIN Felix WAIMEA/BULLER Although I’m originally from the big, sunburnt place across the ditch, I’ve lived in New Zealand for the last 12 years. I love this country, the people, the environment and the fishing – so much so that after building and establishing a fishing lodge in the Nelson Lakes region, I officially became a Kiwi several years ago. If home is where the heart is, then I’m home. I don’t know who came up with that line but it pretty much sums it up for me. You won’t get me excited about the usual trans-Tasman rivalries (I support the All Blacks) but mention the preservation of our New Zealand fishery and you’ve got my undivided attention. I’m passionate about protecting waterways, fish stocks and unimpeded access to rivers and lakes and that’s why I’m committed to supporting the aims of Fish & Game New Zealand. Great fishing needs great water and don’t I know it. My livelihood depends on both. I also want to do everything I can to ensure future generations of anglers can have the benefit of the outstanding fishery we currently enjoy in this country. I am an Executive Member of the New Zealand Professional Fishing Guides Association and I hope to bring that same drive, determination and dedication to furthering Fish & Game New Zealand’s vital work as a Nelson/Marlborough regional councillor. 5 CASH W F (Bill) BLENHEIM I have recently retired after over 30 years with the Department of Conservation and prior to that the New Zealand Wildlife Service. In both, I specialised in habitat and species management. It is this experience in these two fields I feel I can make a worthwhile contribution to the Fish & Game Council. Backing this up with holding a trout licence for almost 30 years in this region, I feel I have a good working knowledge of our region. Although there is a real need to better protect our headwaters, there is also a need to better protect/ manage lowland river waterways, that is where most locals fish. Fish & Game are a leading player if not the leading player in both protecting our waterways and managing our wetlands. Fish & Game now have a very skilled workforce, back this up with a knowledgeable council who can give both practical and positive advice, so all wildlife species be it game or protected species will benefit. During my working days, I was involved in many restoration projects which included both planting and pest control. It is the protection of habitat, and in many cases the enhancement of habitat, that is the key to providing a healthy fishery or plentiful game birds. I feel my past experience and knowledge in this field would be an asset and Nelson/Marlborough Fish & Game Council. CUDBY Carey WAIRAU SOUTH Born in Wellington 1951, retired to Marlborough in 2002. My working career was in commerce, management and administration with the majority of my time spent with the Electricity Corporation of New Zealand. I am a keen fisherman and hunter and if successful in this election this will be my third term. I have spent a lifetime enjoying the NZ outdoors, as work commitments permitted, but have always been aware of the shrinking water flows, habitat loss and growing access issues. Shortly after moving to Marlborough I became involved with the TrustPower application for hydro development on the Wairau River. I continue to be involved in this issue both in my current position and as a council member for Save the Wairau River Inc. and the Marlborough Freshwater Anglers Club. I was actively involved in the Landcare review of the Wairau ‘Waters in Common’ and currently have attended and had input into our Council’s ‘Review of Water Allocation and Use’ community forums, which form part of the Council’s plan review. There is a ground swell in the media which has bought many of the issues facing the environment and the unsustainable grab for our water resources, unfortunately this continues to be ignored by the developers, regulators and central government by way of long-term policy and 6 action that provides for a sustainable future. I will continue to advocate for more robust policy in government that protects the environment and the sustainability of our water resources into the future for all New Zealanders. DIXON-DIDIER Paul MOTUEKA/GOLDEN BAY I have served on the Nelson-Marlborough Fish & Game Council for 6 previous terms and I am currently on the Game Committee and Executive Committee. I am the region’s appointee to the New Zealand Fish & Game Council where I am also on the Executive Committee. Whether at a local or national level I bring the same passion and commitment to protect the interests of anglers and hunters. Our rivers, lakes, wetlands and upland game habitats remain under constant threat from degradation, abstraction or compromised public access and I am resolute to maintain Fish & Game’s position as New Zealand’s most prominent and effective advocate for these environments, whether this takes place over the farm gate, at local government level or in the Environment Court. If re-elected I will prioritise the following issues: • providing education and opportunity for young anglers and hunters • return of Canadian geese as a game bird • lowland river enhancement and restocking where feasible • opposing any changes to the Resource Management Act that would dilute environmental protection • Wairau river salmon fishing enhancement • Riwaka river fishery restoration I bring a range of skills and expertise to Fish & Game including leadership, corporate governance, financial management, strategic thinking and human resource management.