Fish & Game Election 2018

Are you a keen angler or hunter or both who’d like a bigger say in how fishing and game bird hunting is managed? 

Fish and Game councils provide an essential role in our ‘user pays, user says’ democratic management of sports fish and game birds.

Fish & Game’s elections held every three years are on again this year – to choose councillors to represent the interests of anglers and hunters in each of the organisation’s 12 regions.

The councillors’ tasks include setting regional fishing and hunting regulations, often in response to submissions from licenceholders, developing policy, prioritising management direction through work plans for staff. Another key role is the promotion of freshwater sports fishing and game bird hunting in their local community. 

To be eligible to stand or vote, you must have a current full season fishing or game bird hunting licence.  You must also have ticked the box saying you want to be a voter when you bought your licence.

Key Election Dates

March 15 – Game bird hunting licences go on sale – register to vote when you buy your licence.

August 13 – Nominations open for Fish and Game regional council candidates

August 21 – Fishing licences go on sale – register to vote when you buy your licence

August 30 – Nominations close

September 12 – Electoral roll closes at 5pm

September 20 – NZ Post begins distributing voter packs. Online voting begins.

October 12 – Voting closes at 5pm

October 16 – Postal votes close.  The official results are produced and candidates advised.

October 20 – Official declaration and public notice of results published in regional daily newspapers

October 31 – Elected members take office