Relationships

The Ministry is increasingly pursuing multi-agency approaches with agencies with broader maritime and border protection responsibilities. These relationships are important. The list below, while not exhaustive, notes the areas where the Ministry works with other government departments and external stakeholders on the development and maintenance of fisheries policy, and international fisheries arrangements that give rise to access to international and high seas fisheries for New Zealand fishers.

Department of Conservation

• Ensuring ecological sustainability by providing improved contracting outcomes for fisheries-related research on protected species.
• Developing and implementing a strategy for establishing a network of areas that protect marine biodiversity – marine protected areas strategy.
• Preserving as far as is practicable all indigenous freshwater fisheries, and freshwater fish habitats, while maximising the value New Zealanders obtain through the sustainable use of fisheries resources and protection of the aquatic environment.
• Implementing the National Plan of Action for Seabirds to:
  • reduce incidental mortality of seabirds in New Zealand fisheries as far as possible, taking into account advances in technology, knowledge and financial implications
  • ensure the long-term viability of protected seabird species is not threatened by their incidental catch in New Zealand fisheries waters or by New Zealand flagged vessels in high seas fisheries
  • meet the obligations under the Fisheries Act 1996 (s9), to avoid remedy or mitigate the effects of fishing on the aquatic environment.
• Development of Conservation services levies in the cost recovery programme.

Ministry for the Environment

• There is a coherent national picture of how the New Zealand environment is collectively managed and the delivery of services is seen to be efficient.
• The community is involved in action for the environment.
• New Zealand's environmental legislation is visibly effective and appropriate.
• Government and industry work together to achieve sustainable results.
• New Zealand industry competes, is profitable and grows sustainably.

Ministry for the Environment, Department of Conservation, Te Puni Kokiri, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise

• Implementation of the aquaculture reforms.

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

• Implementing the marine biosecurity frameworks through effective management of marine biosecurity research contracts.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

• Coordination of operational and strategic objectives for international fisheries.
• Collaboration on New Zealand delegations to multilateral, regional and bilateral fisheries fora.
• Institutional strengthening and capacity-building work with Pacific Island fisheries agencies.
• Collaboration on fisheries trade issues including removal of subsidies and input into negotiation of free trade agreements.
• Support New Zealand fishing industry in securing access to fisheries beyond the EEZ.

New Zealand Defence Forces (NZDF)

• NZDF have responsibilities for surface and aerial surveillance of the EEZ. The Ministry and NZDF share information to ensure surveillance efforts and assets are directed at the areas of highest risk and fisheries-related surveillance capacity is efficiently utilised.

New Zealand Police

• The Ministry has a Memorandum of Understanding with New Zealand Police providing for operational arrangements of mutual cooperation and assistance. This includes the provision of operational support in specific enforcement operations, training and development of personnel, and sharing of information and intelligence.

New Zealand Customs

• The Ministry has a Memorandum of Understanding with Customs providing for operational arrangements of mutual cooperation and assistance and information sharing, including working together at airports and other exit points from New Zealand to monitor the flow of fish product from New Zealand and to detect and apprehend smugglers of illegal product (usually paua).
• The Ministry and other agencies with maritime or border protection responsibilities including New Zealand Customs, are working on a range of projects that strengthen collective approaches to maritime monitoring and surveillance.
• The Ministry also provides a seconded position to the National Maritime Control Centre located at NZDF to coordinate information sharing and asset deployment.

Ministry of Economic Development

• Improving New Zealand's economic performance through the Growth and Innovation Framework.

Other external relationships

Ministry of Research, Science and Technology (MoRST) and Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (FRST).

The Ministry works with MoRST and FRST to determine research and funding priorities in fisheries research and minimise the overlap of research between funding organisations.

Other

The Ministry works with the Treasury, Te Puni Kokiri, the Office of Treaty Settlements, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Ministry of Justice, State Services Commission, the Ministry of Economic Development, the Department of Labour, the Environmental Risk Management Authority, New Zealand Customs, Maritime New Zealand, and the New Zealand Food Safety Authority on fisheries related issues as they arise.

The Ministry of Fisheries has regular contact and interaction with a number of regional fisheries (eg Forum Fisheries Agency), and international organisations (eg United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization).

Treaty Partner: relationships with tangata whenua

The Ministry interacts with tangata whenua on a number of different levels. It continues to implement the customary fishing regulations and has ongoing consultation obligations under the Fisheries Act 1996. Mäori are now the largest players in New Zealand's commercial fishing industry. Tangata whenua can manage their non-commercial customary fishing activity through customary regulations. Mäori are also substantial recreational fishers.

External service providers

FishServe

In 1999 the Fisheries Act 1996 was amended to enable more flexible delivery of fisheries management services. Many registry- based services are now devolved to FishServe (a commercial company established by SeaFIC) as an Approved Service Delivery Organisation (ASDO) or provided under contract through SeaFIC. The Minister sets standards and specifications for devolved services, while the Chief Executive sets standards and specifications for contracted services.

National Institute for Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA)

The Ministry's research projects are let through a contestable tendering process where tenders are evaluated through an earned value basis, combining aspects of both quality and cost. NIWA undertakes most of these. NIWA also maintains, on behalf of the Ministry, the research databases and other research information.

Stakeholder groups

New Zealand Seafood Industry Council (SeaFIC)

SeaFIC is a company whose shares are principally held by commercial stakeholder organisations. Its primary role is the promotion and development of the New Zealand seafood industry.

Te Ohu Kai Moana Trustee Ltd

Te Ohu was established as part of the Treaty of Waitangi (Fisheries Claims) Settlement Act 1992. It holds in trust assets provided by the Crown prior to and after the Settlement. Its primary role is to validate the status of iwi organisations, allocate assets and audit iwi organisations' operations.

Environmental sector

The Ministry interacts with a number of environmental groups with strong interests in the sustainability of fisheries and the effect of fishing on the environment:

• Environmental and Conservation Organisations of New Zealand (ECO)
• Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society
• Greenpeace
• World Wide Fund for Nature.

Recreational fisheries interests

The Ministry interacts with a range of groups representing recreational interests.