Filipinos raise fishing job fears in Nelson

Fears about New Zealanders being edged out of fishing jobs have been raised after a Nelson fishing company recruited four Filipinos to crew fishing boats.

But Amaltal Fishing Company said the four who arrived in Nelson recently were here for training.

The Fishing Industry Guild said it was aware of rumours concerning the men, but had been assured by Amaltal that they were here only for training.

Nelson-based administration officer Louis Hart said Amaltal had always been an advocate for the "New Zealandisation" of the fishing industry, just as the guild was.