NZ First deputy leader Shane Jones is calling for discipline. Photo / Mark Mitchell
NZ First deputy leader Shane Jones is calling for discipline. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Shane Jones is calling for discipline from his party’s coalition partner as the NZ First deputy leader promises that comments made by a National MP on his contentious fishing reform bill will be raised with National leader Christopher Luxon.
The MP in question, Vanessa Weenink from Banks Peninsula, says sheis simply acting on behalf of her electorate and claims she is echoing the position of her party leader.
Last week, Jones was forced to back down on one aspect of his Fisheries Amendment Bill, which would have scrapped almost all minimum legal-size limits for commercial fishing operators.
The backdown came after both New Zealand First leader Winston Peters and Luxon spoke with Jones about the clause, prompted by strong opposition from recreational fishers who had complained to many National MPs.
Luxon last week described the clause as the “egregious part of the bill”, welcomed its removal and encouraged anglers to make submissions at the select committee stage “so we can make the bill even better”.
The bill has passed its first reading and will be sent to a select committee.
National MP Vanessa Weenink posted a video to social media yesterday. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Yesterday, Weenink posted a video to social media saying she still had “many concerns” about the bill and asked people to participate in her survey about the bill.
“I do not believe this bill would be widely supported by my electorate and I want to be in a very strong position to argue for the opinions of my community.”
Jones, speaking to media today, questioned why the National MP was making such comments about the bill, given it had been supported by the coalition.
“I would say that the distant reaches of the National Party backbench are a long way from my wheelhouse,” he said.
“However, my leader’s office will take that matter up with the Prime Minister’s office because we treat our coalition agreements with a great deal of seriousness, and I just think a bit of discipline is needed at the moment.”
He said it was a “strange development” to hear concerns from a Government MP about legislation through social media instead of the “channels of coalition discussions”.
“You don’t run around trying to gain grace and favour with these dislocated voices who are more worried about undersized fish than the coherence of the coalition Government.”
However, Jones didn’t believe it was a breach of the coalition agreement between National and NZ First.
“I know from the Prime Minister that he agrees that elements of the coalition agreement we entered into with fidelity and integrity.
“I just think that backbenchers are getting hot and bothered about the fisheries issue, there are far more pressing concerns than the size of a snapper’s tail.”
Shane Jones was not happy with the National MP's comments. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Jones also took exception to Weenink thanking a social media user who commented on her post, claiming Jones had a conflict of interest, given his connections with the commercial fishing industry.
Weenink’s response thanked the user for commenting on her post. She included in her response that she couldn’t comment on the user’s claim.
Weenink said the Herald’s request for comment was the first she’d heard of Jones’ concerns.
She believed many in her South Island electorate, referencing keen anglers and those who were vocal about environmental issues, would be concerned about the bill.
Weenink maintained she was “not doing anything that hasn’t been approved by my leader”.
Earlier today, Luxon didn’t answer directly when asked if he had allowed his MPs to publicly criticise the bill.
“We’re very clear, we want to see the most egregious part of it, which is the commercial catch limits have been removed.
“That’s not going to be progressing and if we don’t see that removed, we won’t be supporting the bill.”
Adam Pearse is the Deputy Political Editor and part of the NZ Herald’s Press Gallery team based at Parliament in Wellington. He has worked for NZME since 2018, reporting for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei and the Herald in Auckland.
