Annual Report for the Year Ended 30 June 1999

• Our Vision
• Principal Functions
• Chief Executive's Overview
• The Way Forward
• Key Achievements
• The Ministry
• 1998/99 Financial Performance
• References

Annual Report for the Year Ended 30 June 1999

Chief Executive's Overview

The 1998/99 financial year was a year of considerable change for both the fisheries sector and for the Ministry of Fisheries itself.

The Ministry has continued implementing those parts of the Fisheries Act 1996, including the environmental and information principles and other obligations that were not subject to the independent review of the Fisheries Act. Policy definitions on matters related to the Treaty of Waitangi (section 5 of the Act) and on sections 8, 10 and 13-14 (purposes and principles, information principles and sustainability measures) have been written and external review invited. Work on environmental principles, international obligations and the regulatory framework is ongoing.

Policy definitions for Part VII relating to disputes and section 12 consultation issues are already in place.

The Ministry's biosecurity responsibilities relate to managing risks to the marine environment that arise from the discharge of ballast water from international shipping and from hull fouling.

The Ministry has actively co-operated and consulted with other agencies in exercising its powers under the Act. Formal agreements exist between the Ministry of Fisheries and the Department of Conservation and with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

During the first part of the year considerable resources were put into the various processes required to bring the customary regulations covering the North Island and Chatham Islands into effect.

Since then, although further work remains, matters associated with the customary regulations have become largely operational.

This includes, for example:

• customary administrators being appointed in all three regional offices;
• the signing of a new combined compliance and administrative contract with Ngai Tahu;
• the appointment of 98 Tangata Tiaki/Kaitiaki in the South Island and the establishment of the first maøtaitai at Rapaki Bay;
• a compliance contract has been signed with Ngati Kahungunu and processes are underway for further contracts to be signed;
• an additional 21 Fisheries Officers to support compliance with the customary regulations in the North Island are in the process of being appointed, in many cases at new locations.

Following the 1998 annual conference of the New Zealand Recreational Fishing Council, Ministry staff have been working jointly with representatives of the Council on the Rights Working Group. The Rights Working Group has been charged with reviewing options for improving the recreational right. Its work provided the basis for a large part of the 1999 annual conference held in July of this year.

The work of the Rights Working Group is ongoing with the intention being for it to be the vehicle for subsequent public consultation on ways to improve the recreational right.

Ministry resources were also used during the year to provide analytical support to the independent reviewer, who as mentioned in last year's annual report, was charged with reviewing the operation of the quota management system under the Fisheries Act 1996.

Following the receipt of the independent reviewer's report, the Ministry worked with other departments in providing advice to Ministers on reforms to the Fisheries Act 1996, drafting changes to the 1996 Act and supporting the Primary Production Select Committee in its consideration of two Amendment Bills, that included changes wider than simply changes to the operation of the quota management system. As is known the two Amendment Bills have been passed into law since 30 June 1999.

The provisions relating to the Fourth Schedule of the 1996 Act were not reported back by the Select Committee.

Particularly pleasing during the year was the work undertaken on cost recovery including the principles now set out in legislation and the detailed rules reported to Ministers (by the joint Ministry, Treasury and Industry Working Group) and agreed to by Ministers for consultation with the sector. I am fully confident that the work completed in the cost recovery area is based upon sound underlying principles and that it has laid a solid foundation for the future administration of the cost recovery regime. As I have reported in earlier years the previous cost recovery regime has been a source of major distraction for all stakeholders and the Ministry alike. Hopefully those days are now behind us.

Risk management has been a priority matter during the previous financial year.

It is therefore pleasing to report that external audits have confirmed the excellent progress made by the Ministry in addressing the Y2K issue. I am pleased to report that the Ministry is now in good shape for the management of the associated Y2K risks. In particular we have taken all reasonable steps to ensure the operations and integrity of the quota management system are protected.

At the end of the financial year, negotiations were almost finalised with Commercial Fisheries Services Limited and Datacom Employer Services Limited for the external delivery of registry services. The contract, which has since been signed, is aimed at ensuring the continuity of registry services between Ministry delivery and the building of new registry services required under the first of the Fisheries Amendment Bills.

As in previous years the Ministry continued to operate in a difficult environment. In addition to the achievements mentioned above the Ministry's outputs were largely delivered as agreed with the Minister and the financial out-turns were within the two overall appropriations (ie for Vote Fisheries and for Vote Biosecurity (Fisheries)) as well as being within the appropriated amounts for the individual output classes.

Looking ahead to 1999/2000 and beyond, the priorities are associated with building upon the achievements of 1998/99. They revolve around matters associated with implementing the two Amendment Acts, improving the ongoing capability of the Ministry to operate in the new environment, progressing outstanding reforms related to aquaculture, the recreational right and co-management and improving relationships with stakeholders.

Coming back to 1998/99, the Ministry has had a very good year. This would not have been possible without the support and dedication of all Ministry staff. To all of my staff in the Compliance, Policy, Fisheries Services and Corporate Development Teams throughout the country, I say a big thank you.