FISHERIES RED TAPE IN FOR THE CHOP

This morning we listened to RNZ and heard a yarn on the Price Waterhouse Coopers 2030 report which takes a long term view of New Zealand fisheries in an interview with Phil Heatley.

Heatley is shaping up to be a good Minister of Fisheries and he has a commercial focus. This report underpins that.

There are two main points for us - that the industry is severely over regulated. There are 8000 regulations governing fisheries. Well placed sources tell us we will see some action soon on trimming some of the myriad of superfluous rules and regs.
The second issue, which Heatley highlighted this morning, is that while the industry is considered to be a world leader because there is a high level of reporting from the commercial sector - that is not replicated in the customary or the recreational sectors. Heatley wants to tackle that too.
Yee bloody ha, we say , about time.
With rights come responsibilities and customary and recreational fishers need to help this country build up its knowledge bank on fish stocks.
We also understand that Rodney's red tape squad will be tacking fisheries - that's a damn good thing. If you want to see red tape follow the paper trail for rock lobster from the pot to the plate. We will be keeping a close watch on progress.

Attached is the PWC report
MFishFisheries2030ReportRevised Final 19Feb

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WHY RODNEY NEEDS TO CLEAN UP LOCAL GOVERNMENT

We have a big shed - 120sqm that was built to house specs that may one day become a house on a ten acre block in rural NZ - We camp in it from time to time.

We want to put a toilet and shower and a washbasin in - You would think that would be simple.
The council told us it would be pretty simple - an amendment to the original building consent.

Anyway - we have submitted all the paper work and this particular council says it takes at least 20 working days to process applications. so on day 24 we get this response -

Building Consent Authorities need to be satisfied that compliance with the building code will be met when issuing a Building Consent.
Please forward the following information to prove compliance with the requirements of the NZ building code.

• The submitted documents lack detailed specifications. Would you please provide the written specifications as underpin the already submitted documents as detail the proposed work thereby demonstrating how compliance with the Building code will be achieved for the proposed works.

Please reference the building consent application number when responding to the above request. Approval of this applications has been suspended until your plans and or specifications have been amended to conform with the above comments.

It doesn't even make sense.
We submitted about 30 pages of docs - with all the F***king details. God only knows what you would need to do to build a bloody house!

So it looks like we will have a port loo and solar shower over xmas -

Pissed off doesn't begin to describe how we feel. but I wont name the council because we all know what happens when you piss off the council building inspector - they are more powerful and vindictive than the last Labour Government !