Councillors

I am a 46-year-old current councillor. Fourth-generation salmon, trout and game bird hunter. I have a young family who are just as passionate. I am a dairy farmer on the family farm in Springston with over 26 years of experience running this business.

In 2016 I received the Working with Nature Award in recognition of outstanding efforts to improve freshwater habitat from NC F&G. In 2017 I was approached and asked to be co-opted onto the North Canterbury Council. I stood in 2019 and was elected. I have represented NC on the national sub-committee for Sea Run Salmon Committee. I have filled in where required at the national council meetings and currently on the Health & Safety Committee.

I am open and honest in my opinions and feel myself to be evidence-based and solution orientated. I have been involved with salmon rescue and volunteer egg harvesting at Montrose. I worked with DOC and Living Waters on waterway restoration.

This council needs to continue with its agenda to obtain better funding for this region. Over this last term, we have worked on major funding inequity between our region and others throughout NZ with some success.

I would continue to work hard to achieve a high standard for our priorities which include habitat protection and enhancement, engaging stakeholders which still need a lot of work, improving the financial position, protecting of the trout and salmon fishery and our game bird hunting opportunities.

I have been a lifelong spin and fly fisher.

As part of my degree in zoology, I studied fish and fisheries, gaining a strong appreciation of the variables affecting trout and salmon populations and the kind of healthy environments in which all species flourish.

Most of my fishing has been in the estuarine waters, rivers and canals of the South Island. My experience also extends to Australia and Alaska.

I belong to the Canterbury Anglers Club and the New Zealand Handloaders Association. I have some experience in game bird shooting.

I support good relationships with NIWA, the Cawthorn Institute, the Department of Conservation as well as ECan,  Ngai Tahu and other organisations that can further better water management and healthy waterways.

I acknowledge the efforts farmers are making, including forming catchment groups, fertigation, regenerative farming, biodiversity developments, specialty breeding and pasture improvement to reduce nitrogen application and urine leaching. We need to work alongside farmers.

In the future, it would be most worthwhile to see a local dedicated ‘Put and Take’ pond for all anglers - this is in addition to the successful Lake Rotokohatu.

I look forward to taking steps to support the increasing number of women gaining confidence and enjoyment in their development of fly fishing skills.

In gaining re-election, your vote will mean strong strategic action towards healthier waterways, restoring our trout and salmon numbers and more fun for you in our fisheries and game bird areas!

I have gained re-election to continue strengthening governance and improving the operational efficiency of the NC Fish & Game Council. Over the past three years on the council, I have enjoyed working alongside dedicated individuals to make meaningful progress, and I am eager to continue this work. My goal is to enhance communication with stakeholders and boost engagement across the board.

As a 56-year-old avid hunter and fisherman, I am deeply passionate about exploring our great country. Growing up next to the Rakaia River, I developed a love for salmon fishing, fly fishing, and hunting. These experiences instilled in me a commitment to preserving these activities not just for my children but for all future generations. We face important challenges, including access to hunting and fishing grounds, growing demands on water usage, and maintaining the health of our rivers.

As a business owner with over three decades of senior management experience, I bring a wealth of expertise. I am eager to continue contributing to the enhancement of Fish & Game policies and processes, supporting staff in their efforts to secure access and restore water quality in our rivers and waterways to levels that satisfy both anglers and shooters.

This includes improving fish screens and water intakes in our local waterways, increasing sports fish and game bird populations, enhancing wetlands, providing guidance on sustainable farming practices, and advocating for cleaner water. By addressing these challenges, we can ensure that future generations enjoy the same opportunities we cherish today.

I have been a keen angler and gamebird hunter since being introduced to the sport over 50 years ago as a boy living on the West Coast. I am a keen fly fisher with a passion for fishing back country rivers. I am also a keen deer hunter.

I was a member of the inaugural West Coast Fish and Game Council from 1991 to 1996 and was their appointee to the New Zealand Fish and Game Council, a position I held for 5 years until I moved to Christchurch.

As a current member of the North Canterbury Fish and Game Council I have a passionate interest in the management of our sports fish and gamebird resource focussing on sustainable management of the habitat. In November 2020 I was again appointed to the NZ Fish and Game Council by North Canterbury and have served in that role including being a member of the NZC executive committee until the present time.

After a career as a civil engineer, I retired in 2022 and have been able to devote more time and energy to serving on both the regional and national bodies.

Understanding the importance of good governance, I believe that I can continue to make a valuable contribution to your council based on previous experience and understanding of the legal framework around Fish and Game NZ.

I have served on NC F&G since 2017, first as the Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu statutory advisor and then as a co-opted member of the council.

I grew up in the Malvern area and now live in Christchurch with my young family. I am a passionate gamebird hunter and love trout fishing in our high-country lakes. I can’t wait to share these experiences with my children.

I am proud of the direction the council is taking, with a focus on strengthening the processes we use to make decisions and an emphasis on grounding those decisions in data science and ethics.

I believe our organisation is at a point of evolution. Society is changing, as is public perception of the pastimes we hold dear. Changes are coming for the legislative levers we rely on to advocate for the habitats our birds and fish need to thrive. To maximise our licence holder’s resources and protect our sports, I want to continue to drive the development of strategies that set a pathway for sustainable hunting and fishing and build relationships with key partners to ensure our values are understood by those responsible for managing the habitats we need.

My hope is that Fish & Game continues to be a strong advocate for our licence holders and our species by demonstrating our value as partners, celebrating the benefits of hunting and fishing, and consistently reaffirming our place as a key strand in the fabric of the kiwi way of life.

I stand for Kiwi anglers and hunters first. I stand for protecting public access, fish, gamebirds and their habitat.

I’m a third-generation Canterbury freshwater angler. I was an honorary ranger for Fish & Game North Canterbury, and I understand how the organisation works.

Throughout my career, I’ve developed solid skills in fishery management and conservation. I was a national fishery manager, overseeing the work of rangers and scientists. Currently, I’m the general manager of a thriving coastal park with many game birds and fish.

I am 42, and my passion for rivers and fish has been lifelong. I grew up on the banks of the Styx River near the mouth of the Waimakariri River. As a young man, I fished the river almost every day after school, and I went to Lincoln University to learn how to protect rivers and fish. At the age of 16, I became a founding member of the Styx River Living Laboratory Trust. Today, I am still a trustee, and we’re now delivering a 4.2 million-dollar river restoration project.

As a keen fisherman, I’m a member and speaker at several local fishing clubs, and I also write fishing articles and run learn-to-fish courses. I was lucky to grow up fishing the rivers and lakes of Canterbury, and now I need your support to protect them for future generations.

• Founder of Hunting & Fishing New Zealand
• Chair of Game Bird Habitat Trust
• Foundation trustee of Hunters for Conservation
• Held freshwater fishing licences since age 6
• Held gamebird hunting licences since age 16
• 20+ years served as a Fish & Game councillor

On leaving school, I trained as a field officer with the Wellington Acclimatisation Society, moving on to manage the Westland Region. The business side of the outdoors then lured me into opening the first Hunting & Fishing New Zealand store. I subsequently franchised the concept, and 38 years on with 40 stores, the time was right to exit and prioritise being ‘out there doing it’. I may be better known for my input into waterfowl hunting. Still, I’m also a keen freshwater angler who’s worked in trout hatcheries with drift diving teams, monitored spawning streams and been involved with water quality issues.

My appreciation of Lake Ellesmere culminated in 2021 when my wife Michelle and I purchased a lakeside property. Wanting more than just a family and friend hunting base, we sought a location where we could participate in habitat restoration and wildlife conservation within the lake and its surrounds. If elected, my input will reflect the passion and respect I have for the wider fish and game resource in North Canterbury. Strong leadership is critical at a time when the valued introduced species critical to our angling and hunting heritage come under greater pressure. Not to mention threats arising from the Wildlife and Conservation Act reviews!

To be confirmed