Calling all anglers and hunters

If you love fishing and hunting and you want to make a valuable contribution to the industry, stand for the local Fish and Game council.

Elections for the Eastern Region Fish and Game Council are approaching and organisers are inviting passionate anglers and hunters to apply.

Nominations for council are open and will be accepted until Thursday, October 11. The election will be held in November. 

Twelve councillors will be elected from throughout the Eastern region, which includes Tauranga and the Western Bay, to serve a three year term.

The councillors are responsible for setting regional fishing and hunting regulations, developing policy, prioritising management direction through annual and 10-year work plans for staff, and promoting freshwater sports fishing and game bird hunting in our community.

One of the 12 Eastern councillors will be appointed to sit on the NZ Fish and Game Council based in Wellington, which recommends licence fees and considers national issues.

Eastern Region manager Rob Pitkethley said the regional Fish and Game Council provided an "essential role in our `user pays, user says' democratic approach to the management of sports fish and game birds".

He said it was a system that was "unique in the world". 

The Council usually has six meetings each year.

Mr Pitkethley said: "If you want to help protect sports fish and game bird species for the benefit of future generations, and play a key role in their management  this is your chance."

He said this would be ``a great way to meet like- minded outdoors-people, influence local and national Fish and  Game policy and put something back into your chosen sports''.

For more information, visit the Fish & Game website: www.fishandgame.org.nz/newsitem/2012-fish-game-council-electionshere.