Press release 29/9/2015

Outdoors Party - A New Political Party Based on Strong Values

www.outdoorsparty.co.nz

A new political party based on strong outdoor values and principles has been launched by well known outdoorsman Alan Simmons of Turangi with a surge of support coming in.

In the first week of the announcement membership applications had been flooding in said Turangi-based interim leader Alan Simmons with a lifetime of the outdoors behind him.

“I'm thrilled New Zealanders obviously realise the need for such a party as I do in launching it.”

The formation of the party reflected his concerns about the environment and erosion of New Zealanders’ outdoor heritage.

“I want to inject the words positive and sensible conservation into the political debate about our finite resources while focussing on the sort of world we are leaving for future generations. I don’t want smokescreens or red herrings which we’ve all seen too much of. Frankly Nero fiddles while Rome burns is so apt today."

The Outdoors Party will be focussed strongly on the outdoor heritage of clean rivers, healthy fisheries and public ownership of fish and game but many other issues that affect the outdoors, environment and quality of life will come into play too,” said Alan Simmons.

He spelt out four basic aspects to the new party:-

1. The party’s aim will be to advocate, lobby and develop policy based on protecting and enhancing the public ownership of the New Zealand outdoors environment without the intrusion of extreme green views.

2. The party would not oppose development providing such development was a "wise use" of that resource and did not detrimentally impact on the environment.

3. The party would concentrate on its key policy areas around protecting the environment and the New Zealand outdoor way of life with little or no emphasis on economic and other areas that small parties have little or no influence on.

4. The New Zealand way of life has always been strongly based around our outdoors heritage and the wonderful community support that is uniquely New Zealand. This will be our mission to protect and enhance those values.

Alan Simmons, with a life time of outdoor interests in sea and trout fishing and hunting, said he believed a political party needed to adhere to principles and not be compromised as too many other parties had leading to voter dissatisfaction.

“We want to only engage in its area of expertise in a positive manner. Our role will be to develop and engage in alternative ideas showing a positive way forward."

Alan Simmons said current key issues for the party would be such as water quality and keeping freshwater fresh, climate change, land use changes, encouraging alternatives to pine forest monoculture such as planting of manuka forest, fishing both recreational and commercial, rural issues such as loss of rural communities, aquaculture, clean farming methods and alternatives value-added crops, access issues endangered by foreign ownership, trout farming, helihunting and in general promote the egalitarian principles New Zealand was founded on.

Membership would be encouraged from all outdoor groups such as trampers, anglers, hunters, biking enthusiasts, boaties and mountain clubs. However anyone with an environmental conscience such as farmers, those concerned about climate change, or just with a general love of the outdoors, bush and mountains would find the party a refreshing political approach.

“By being a broad centre of the road party we would hope to attract people from a number of outdoors groups including everyday New Zealanders who are just sensible conservationists."

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