Update - April 5th, 2013

Paua to the People campaign in full swing

In the last fortnight, the Paua to the People community group has become a 1700-strong army of passionate volunteers who oppose the Paua industry's push to harvest, and likely decimate, some of New Zealand’s best recreational and customary paua fisheries.

At the centre of the issue is a Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) proposal to open up 25km of Otago and Southland coastline to the commercial paua industry.

Former All Black and Paua to the People spokeperson Kees Meeuws says “New Zealanders love Paua. Hundreds of people from coastal communities between Dunedin and Bluff are standing up and have already made a huge difference.”

Mr. Meeuws goes onto say “An overwhelming majority of the 70-odd who turned up at last night’s Bluff community meeting were oppposed. The fact that most showed up with less than 24 hours notice demonstrates their shock at what the government is proposing”. This was the group’s third community meeting over the past fortnight which have attracted over 200 people.

The Paua to the People (www.pauatothepeople.org.nz) website is the central rallying point for the multi-pronged campaign. Lloyd McGinty, co-founder of Paua to the People says “In less than a week over 200 people have sent a submission online to MPI opposing the proposal. Its not just online - we’ve had community meetings up and down the coast and all of St. Clair was even postered yesterday. We’re working hard to channel the massive energy of our fast growing community.”

Mr. McGinty further explains “We are worried that greed is pushing this proposal, and we believe the paua industry are about economic gain for a few, regardless of the huge loss for the community and the environment. We are concerned about the future of our coastlines.”

Paua to the People invites more people to go to the campaign website and Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/pauatothepeople/) and make certain this proposal is shut down. There is detailed information about the proposal as well as links to copies of the MPI’s proposal and other relevant information.

Mr. Meeuws urges, “Don’t be a passive supporter, every little bit counts. Stand up and speak, lots of people are already listening. If you don’t, we may not get another chance. Please go online or get out on the street and make a difference.”

ends

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