Volunteer honoured for paua work

PRIDE: Colin Olds, South Wairarapa district councillor and honorary fisheries officer, with his plaque noting 22 years of duty with the Honorary Fishery Officer Network. PHOTO/ANDREW BONALLACK

Marching up to defensive - and possibly guilty - paua takers has been a part of Colin Olds' life for 22 years.

Last month Mr Olds was acknowledged by the Government for his years of service as an honorary fisheries officer.

Mr Olds, also a South Wairarapa District councillor, operated as the volunteer arm of the Ministry of Primary Industries fisheries inspectorate, checking recreational catches on the coast and measuring them.

His coverage mainly involved the South Wairarapa coast, with paua the main item people tried to get away with.

"It's the biggest black-market food product," Mr Olds said.

He had hit some big hauls, although they had decreased over the years.

"My biggest catch was a group of three who had 1150 paua."

Back then he worked on his own, which no longer happened.

"I seized the product, told them to follow me to Featherston police station."

Back then, honorary fisheries officers used their own vehicles and had petrol vouchers, and worked alone.

"I have to say, I've been read my pedigree on a number of occasions.

"Nowadays, it's stab-proof vests, all the safety gear, and we work in pairs."

He said he had a passion for it and had loved his 22 years' service.

He had stopped the work because of council commitments, he said.

"There's training on a regular basis, and I was having to continuously put my apologies in."