Introduction from the Chief Executive

Our fisheries are a national taonga – fishing and fisheries contribute to New Zealand’s cultural, social, economic and environmental wellbeing and way of life. A critical part of my role as Chief Executive of the Ministry of Fisheries is to provide leadership for the Ministry and New Zealand’s fisheries and aquaculture sectors. By leading the development of Fisheries 2030, we will establish a clear direction and the actions necessary to unlock the future economic potential of those sectors. The fundamentals of our fisheries are sound; now is the time to build on them for the future.

We are committed to delivering quality services and improving the value provided to all for the resources allocated. We will look for all opportunities to reduce costs, improve efficiency and effectiveness and to support the economic development of the fishing industry. We will do this through Ministry/industry initiatives to jointly review specific services and by supporting innovation and collaboration across the sector. In the aquaculture sector we will ensure progress by driving the legislative reform process with the Ministry for the Environment, so that we can help enable industry to meet its target of $1 billion sales by 2025. Internationally, we will continue to support development opportunities for New Zealand operators and support the establishment of Regional Fisheries Management Organisations with management integrity.

Fish stock health provides the fundamental platform for economic development, and for the enjoyment of amateur and customary fishers, divers and others who value our fish stocks. We intend to focus on improving our information base, particularly on catch levels in the amateur, commercial and customary sectors, and on improving our understanding of stock status. The development of our Harvest Strategy Standard is an important milestone that will help the sector to improve the management of stocks. Additional standards will be developed to further secure fish stock health and the health of the wider marine environment.

Our relationship with Māori is central for the Ministry, and delivery of the Crown’s obligations to tangata whenua is a key issue. We will work to complete the review of the Treaty Strategy, to progress the implementation of the Deed of Settlement and to address any findings.

Our organisation design review will ensure we can deliver on the Government’s strategic intent, and achieve the resource flexibility and productivity needed to meet changing demands in a time of real budget constraint. The strategic performance framework project and monitoring and reporting on progress will help ensure accountability for results. Ministry services will be delivered with a clear emphasis on value for money. Fisheries 2030 and the strategic performance framework and organisation design projects will be finalised over 2009/10. This current Statement of Intent makes reference to those projects and is designed to deliver on Government priorities over the next 12 months.

I look forward to leading the sector and the Ministry to establish and move towards achievement of the sector’s vision for the future.

Chief Executive Statement of Responsibility

In signing this statement, I acknowledge that I am responsible for the information contained in the Statement of Intent for the Ministry of Fisheries. This information has been prepared in accordance with the Public Finance Act 1989. It is also consistent with the proposed appropriations set out in the Appropriations (2009/10 Estimates) Bill, as presented to the House of Representatives in accordance with section 13 of the Public Finance Act 1989, and with existing appropriations and financial authorities.