New Zealand Fisheries Policy Advice Provided

Services to be provided The services provided by the Ministry's Fisheries Policy group over the next five years cover a range of policy development activities, in the following key areas:

1. Adding value to the fisheries sector
   This work area deals with reforms to add value to New Zealand's fisheries sectors, including tools to enable stakeholders to take responsible initiatives to add value and tools to ensure efficient delivery of services.
   
   It includes reforms to improve the policy setting for allocation of shared fisheries (those fisheries in which commercial, recreational and Mäori customary fishers all have significant interests), and to improve Ministry engagement with fisheries stakeholders (especially non-commercial stakeholders and the public). It also involves contributing to the Government's focus on economic transformation.
   
2. Improving environmental performance
   This work area involves reforms to enhance the environmental performance of the fisheries sector, including managing the impact of fishing on the environment and at-risk species.
   
   It includes reviewing the Fisheries Act 1996 to consider whether improvements to the regulatory environment are needed, and reform areas involving other government agencies that address adverse effects of activities on the marine environment, including impact on fisheries resources and habitats.
   
3. Developing fisheries outcomes and a monitoring approach
   The focus of this work area is better prescribing fisheries management outcomes and appropriate monitoring approaches. Fisheries outcomes will inform the operation of an objectives-based approach to fisheries management. The monitoring approach will include development of effectiveness measures and reporting on indicators of the achievement of fisheries outcomes. The work area also includes a contribution to the development of fisheries standards (led by the Fisheries Operations group).
   
4. Providing for the delivery of obligations to Mäori
   This work includes completing the Ministry's Treaty Strategy that will specify how the Ministry's obligations to Mäori align with the outcomes framework and how these are implemented in different areas of the Ministry's work. A review of the implementation of the Treaty Strategy in order to identify areas for improvement will also be undertaken.
   
   The Fisheries Policy group also contributes to the settlement of the historical Treaty claims of individual iwi and hapü, and supports Crown negotiations and the consideration of applications made under the foreshore and seabed legislation.

A comprehensive range of policy support will be provided across these four categories of policy services, as agreed with the Minister. These will include:

• policy analysis and advice, and the provision of associated legislative advice
• advice on the implementation of Government policy
• the capacity to react quickly and provide support for the Minister in Cabinet Committees, including relevant briefings on significant issues and evaluation of policy initiatives with relevance to the Government's outcomes for fisheries management
• conducting consultation processes with sector stakeholders, government agencies and the public
• initial promulgation of government policy, where such communication is separate from ongoing implementation
• oral and written briefings and preparation of speech notes.

Capacity

In 2007/08, an estimated 25,800 hours of Ministry resource will be used to produce the services listed above.

Performance indicators

1. The quantity and nature of the specific services to be provided by the Fisheries Policy group in 2007/08 will be supplied on the basis agreed between the Minister of Fisheries (the Minister) and the Chief Executive of the Ministry. Timeframes for specific services will be agreed between the Minister and the Chief Executive of the Ministry (amended as necessary by agreement during the year). Advice will be delivered within the agreed and/or statutory timeframes so that Ministers have sufficient time to consider the issues and take appropriate action.
   
2. All reports will comply with the Ministry's quality standards for analysis and advice outlined in this document.
   
3. Reporting at agreed intervals during the year will enable the Minister to assess actual performance in output delivery against those expectations. The Minister will be formally requested, at agreed intervals during the year, to indicate his or her level of satisfaction with the overall quality of the outputs produced based on these standards. The monitoring approach (above) provides for development of more specific effectiveness measures.
   

Cost