DOC’s Kaikoura Disaster Demonstrates One Law For Fishermen And No Law For The Department

The Rt Hon Winston Peters MP, Leader of New Zealand First, today said that the spillage yesterday of rat poison for DOC use demonstrates that clearly the Department is over vigilant on policy for private fishing interests and cavalier about its own policies.

“Instead of acting as a wildlife protection agency, in this case they have been instrumental in the decimation of fish and seals. Had this accident happened at other parts of the South Island seal destruction would have reached appalling figures.

“This is the Department that demands the fishing industry provide escape tunnels in fishing nets for seals and observers on a constant basis. These costs are excessive to the fishing industry.

“No doubt they would regard as absurd and fanciful a demand for observers and greater safety precautions on road transporters.

“It is high time the Department of Conservation imposed the same rigour to their operations as they require from private operators,” said Mr Peters.

ENDS

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