Our Freshwater Policy
New Zealand is blessed with 1,100 rivers, 4,000 lakes and 600 billion cubic metres of annual precipitation. Of this, 11 billion cubic metres of freshwater is consumed (taken out and not returned) by human activity. Although this sounds, literally, like a drop in the ocean, the fact is that most of it falls where it is not consumed and conversely most is consumed where it does not fall.
The biggest consumer of freshwater is irrigation schemes, primarily for dairy pasture. Excluding hydro schemes this comprises 80% of all consented freshwater takes. In Canterbury alone the conversion of dry tussock plains into dairy pasture uses half of all our consumed water, despite the region having only 10% of the countries natural water supply.
Read The Full Freshwater Policy Here
Our Marine Fisheries Policy
Depletion of our inshore fisheries affects both the marine environment and the people who rely on the sea for fishing, for their livelihoods, leisure and sustenance.
Restoring depleted fish stocks to international best practice standards would mean more fish in the water and a more resilient marine environment.
For a fishery such as snapper this best practice standard is defined as at least 40% of the original stock size that existed in the absence of fishing. This is commonly referred to as B40. For slower growing species the standard is higher i.e. B50 or B60. We want our fisheries to be managed at B40 as a minimum. The Outdoors Party will work with Ministry officials and the commercial sector to commit to restoring abundance to this level.
Read The Full Marine Fisheries Policy Here
Our Game Animal Policy
The NZ Outdoors Party believes that our wild deer, tahr, chamois and pigs are a valuable recreational, social and food resource. Hunting is an integral part of our history and culture and it should continue to be so, forever.
Currently the Department of Conservation is responsible for the management of our game animals in the conservation estate, with the Game Animal Council providing a lesser consultation role only.
DoC’s performance in this respect has been both varied and conflicted.
The Game Animal Council (GAC) was established to give the whole hunting sector a far greater say in game management but is beset with three problems.
Read The Full Game Animal Policy Here
Our Aerial Toxins Policy
Cholicalciferol, Cyanide, Brodifacoum and 1080 are all used by public and private organisations to poison mammals.
In addition some of these organisations, deliberately or otherwise,will use toxins to poison feral deer, goats, pigs and other game animals.
The aerial dispersal of brodifacoum and 1080 is a hugely contentious subject. Many believe without it rodents and mustelids would annihilate our bird populations, particularly the ground nesters. Others believe the impact of poisoning non-target species is under-estimated and unquantified. We know that deer are particularly susceptible to 1080 poisoning and find the cereal pellets highly palatable.
The NZ Outdoors Party policy is “the immediate cessation of all aerial toxin drops” and the formation of a new pest control department consisting of young men and woman trained in ground based control.
Read The Full Aerial Toxins Policy Here
Our Firearms Policy
The Arms Act 1983 and Arms Regulations 1992 together constitute world-class legislation that tempers the right to lawfully possess a firearm with the safety of the individual and of society.
The philosophy of allowing only ‘fit-and-proper’ persons to possess firearms and ammunition is the most effective way to ensure the safety and security of firearms.
However, its enforcement and policing is piecemeal and inconsistent across NZ regions.
Read The Full Firearms Policy Here
Our policy on 5G
The NZ Outdoors Party is not satisfied there is any significant benefit to the public by rolling out 5G before the health and environmental effects are better known The NZ Outdoors Party seeks a moratorium on the sale of the spectrum licences followed by education and a commission of enquiry into the risks and benefits of 5G.
Cannabis Law Reform
We support the medicinal use of cannabis plant, CBD and other cannabis
products for humans, pets and livestock and acknowledge the important
role of cannabinoids in supplementing the endocannabinoid system and
promoting wellbeing.
We support home grown medicinal cannabis and will encourage small New Zealand owned companies.
We discourage the capture of cannabis by Big Phama and the imposition of excessive
licensing fees that will block access to family and community based suppliers.
We do not believe cultivation or possession of cannabis for personal use should be a criminal offense.
The New Zealand Outdoors Party will support the will of the people after the 2020 referendum.
Auckland Fuel Road Tax for Launches
We will work to have the Auckland Roading tax on fuel exempted for launches and machinery. It is quite wrong that launches and stationary engines as well as others have to pay this tax when they are never on the roads. We believe that on wharf fuel bowsers should be exempt from the tax.
New Policy Areas
We are working on a number of new policy areas such as healthy living, plastics, A citizens fund for legal challenges to consents and government, bringing back the Forest Service, giving back people back their say in government, healthy living and more education on food and gardening… keep an eye out for changes in the near future.