Nick
Smith has yet again completely overstepped the mark as a
minister – this time with a threat to muzzle Fish and Game
if they don’t keep in line with Government’s views, says
Labour’s Conservation spokesperson Ruth Dyson.
“Nick Smith doesn’t understand boundaries. Time and
time again throughout his career he has gone too far. He is
a shining example of the arrogance and conflicts of interest
of Team Key’s Wall of Shame.
“You would have
thought he would have learned from the Bronwyn Pullar ACC
debacle where he intervened in his own department to lobby
for a friend. Instead as soon as he returned as a minister
he was gagging his Conservation Department’s concerns over
the Ruataniwha Dam.
“He has now threatened to
change the mandate of Fish and Game because of its advocacy
for clean rivers. This is straight out intimidation and he
should offer his resignation. Unlike Gerry Brownlee he
should be serious about it,” says Ruth
Dyson.
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