Every one of the 12 New Zealand Fish & Game Councillors is nominated to serve on the council by their own region.

They are not representatives of their region (as they have to take a national overview in their deliberations) and are expected to be the main link between the New Zealand Council and the regions. They should be able to explain to the New Zealand Council the views of regions on an issue, and subsequently explain to their fellow regional Councillors why the New Zealand Council decided on a particular course of action.

New Zealand Councillors are required to advance and implement national policy back in their particular regions.