A bit rich???

[Sol]

I, together with all non-resident licence holders received a letter today titled "Help Protect New Zealand's World Class Trout Fishery" from F&G NZ.
It asked for continuous support through purchasing a full year license or giving a donation and stating:
"We are aware that it is unlikely that you will be able to experience New Zealand's fishing this season, but with your support we will be better placed to assist in the maintenance of our prized trout fishery in readiness for your return to our shores."

I, for one, will purchase a full-year non-resident licence as hopefully I can still return to my place during this season, and if not, well it's all for a good cause.

From a practical point of view, however, I feel that this request is a bit rich considering the discriminatory hike of the licence price by F$G for non-resident anglers, and taking into account all the crap that has been previously churned over in this forum regarding non-resident anglers.

In my opinion, a far more productive result will ensue, if

• F&G offered a half season licence this year for $90.00

• If looking for a substantial donation, F&G would approach the Inland Revenue department with a view of making any substantial donation tax deductible (it is after all a great incentive for tourism into NZ).
  This would be in line with, say, Air Helicopter Rescue, to whom I have donated every year.

[pomscott]

Haven't decided yet.
Not so long ago there was a very "noisy" campaign against non-resident anglers, probably by a minority, but as a visitor it still made me feel uncomfortable.
I thought that the hike in full season non-resident licence fee was reasonable as my presence and angling activity must add to the "load" on the angling resource, albeit for only part of the season.
It seems that the Virus will most likely make overseas anglers a rare species in NZ for some time to come, pretty much what some campaigners were/are arguing for.
Now being asked, however politely, to provide financial support makes me pause for thought. I'll do that for a while.

[Kiwioz]

Interesting responses - I thought it was a good initiative. I am a non-resident Kiwi and intend to purchase a license anyway as I have done in the rare years I have not returned home during the season. My thoughts were not about the 'foreign' angler issues but about the F&G governance issues and the hope that the Review sorts out some of the endemic issues with F&G well canvassed in NZFFA articles.

Cheers
Kiwioz

[marlsounds]

It's good that this request from F&G has been raised in this forum. I'm interested in the views from regular non-resident anglers – those who return more than once to enjoy our wild New Zealand fishery and our country.

Be assured the NZ taxpayer (only ~81,000 fished for trout and salmon in 2019/20) is also continuing to invest heavily in your absence – to protect the waterways, enhance the wilderness experience and, importantly, to ensure we can open our borders again as soon as possible.

Only one example. The NZ Government invested an extra NZ$1.1B into the Department of Conservation this year. This investment from NZ taxpayers is intended to provide a swag of jobs (1100) for track maintenance, hut maintenance and hosting, predator analysis and control, and a bunch of other stuff that you'll get the benefit from when you're next back.

With their only revenue source of licence sales well down, F&G (our own community NGO) has to maintain the same volume of fisheries management, research and restocking, but with significantly less income. New initiatives on pressure-sensitive backcountry streams have been enacted in 2020 requiring more management on less licence revenue. These will greatly benefit NRL holders from 2021 onwards.

So any assistance to protect and enhance our fishery is greatly appreciated, if you can manage it. Additionally, don't be surprised to see the NR licence fees lift for the 2021-2022 season; no difference to the big hike in airfares that will happen as the airline industry seeks to rebuild and recover lost income from Covid-19 cancellations. BTW, the NZ Government also invested heavily into Air New Zealand to keep it afloat so you'll be able to fly here again when you can.

As taxpayers, kiwis are doing their bit to get you here and onto fish, even if they have strong personal views against international angling tourism. But there's only a few million of us here, so a few dollars to F&G from you all would make a big difference. Cheers!

[pomscott]

Thanks for the very welcome constructive information, all helpful in understanding what's going on and how to respond. Probably right to contribute and put some of the anti-visitor stuff out of mind. Just hope that old age and Covid don't conspire to stop me ever wetting a line again in NZ. Tight lines to all the good guys there!

[marlsounds]

We'll expect you back here in 2022, Colin. In the meantime, stock the tackle boxes up!

[Sol]

Thanks Michael for your very concise information about the F&G trout management which needs to continue with or without the non-resident anglers.
I am sure this will give a much clearer insight for all who read this forum and will provide an incentive for NRA to maintain their licences and/or donate to the cause. It would also be very helpful, as Colin said, if all this anti-visitor bullshit is at best kept private and doesn't continue to rear its ugly head in this forum.

Air Rescue Helicopters NZ and its trust are only partially funded by a government contract with National Ambulance Sector Office (NASO), yet it has established for its major donations to be Inland Revenue tax-deductible. Even being an "our own community NGO", I believe F&G has a very legitimate cause to apply for its donors to have a tax-deductible offset. I don't know the figures, but I am certain that "trout fishing tourism" must be a significant contributor to the NZ economy. This will open the door to much larger contribution from dedicated anglers both resident and overseas. (my donations to the ARHNZ are fully deductible in my personal tax return in Australia).

Is there any reason why this hasn't been considered - or has it?

[marlsounds]

Hi Sol, you're right that F&G has a strong case to seek a charitable donation status (tax deductibility) for any donations received outside of their taxable activity of issuing licences. Hopefully someone from F&G can answer regarding this. It's a great idea.

The New Zealand Federation of Freshwater Anglers (NZFFA) estimates the overall trout fishing industry to now be over NZ$1B: [url]https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU2009/ ... oposal.htm[/url) so you're again right that it is a "significant contributor to the NZ economy".

Sadly, the biggest risk to our collective fishing quality-of-life in finely balanced at present. Our NZ Government officials have foolishly allowed a tiny trout farming lobby to make a fresh case this year. Although NZ anglers are hopeful that logic will prevail in 2021 and our valuable industry will remain free from disease, the ravages of widespread poaching, bust farm economics, and a bolted gate on a pure wild fishery for ever, it's going to need a strong lobby – not only from the 81,000 NZ anglers, but the 15-20,000 anglers who normally visit our shores.

Vocal support from international fishers is a powerful way to show NZ anglers that they should not resent the non-resident licence holders, and for the NZ Government who will hear them as 'prophets from afar' more likely to be listened to, as familiar local voices are ignored.

[Sol]

Michael, I have always done so and have always encouraged NRA to be vocal and supportive of all the proposed causes that preserve NZ trout fishery, be it from F&G, Steve Gerard from Flyshop, or the New Zealand Federation of Freshwater Anglers.
Surely anyone who sincerely cares about his fishery (be it only on a visit basis) cannot just come and take and expect the fishery to remain the same without voicing himself on important issues that affect his sport.

[marlsounds]

Thanks for everything you put in, Sol. We're going to need a widespread, concerted effort in 2021. My greatest hope is that kiwi anglers can make the effort!