October 8, 2025 • 8 mins
Jason Herrick talks about a breakthrough with Fish and Game from a Southland Federated Farmers perspective.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:15):
Welcome back to the muster Jason Herrick as President of
South con Federated Farmers Jason, good afternoon. Finally we're having
a couple of days of warmer or warmish weather.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Yeah, isn't it delightful any when the sun comes out
and warms up a bit? That sort of lifts the
morale of a lot of people.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Didn't it. It's basically been just a frustrating spring yet
again after what has been a pretty good winter unfortunately,
as we've talked about.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Yeah, no, sort of a rinse and repeat from last year,
isn't it. And I know there's a lot of farmers
out there frustrated at the moment about about the amount
of moisture that's fallen and in the constant bearrage of
the old hail storm and a few snow flurries coming
through and call the temperatures. But you know, it is
spring and at the end of the day, we've got
to look to the future and sun walk come out
(01:00):
on another day. But weather like this that improves it
definitely lifts the morale of farmers out there. That's so.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Yeah, Welcome to life in Southland now. Fishing game there
sounds as though there's been some headway, mean between yourself
and the organization. You've gone hard on South and fishing
game over the last twelve months, but there's been a
bit of a breakthrough there. I don't think I've spoken
to you about that since with other matters arising, but
certainly this sounds like a positive between the two organizations.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Yeah, absolutely so we're getting we're getting, you know, closer
to the end now of what we were asking the
Minister to do. And but with that Southern fishing game,
they've come and leaps and bounds, and with Dave McGregor
taking over the chairmanships doing a really good job there
and being very communicative and very transparent and open to conversation.
And we're not always going to agree on things, but
(01:51):
at the end of the day, he's open to have
those conversations and we are talking and getting a little
bit more charity and we're going to see some of
that result this month with the government introducing the new
bill and legislation for fishing Game into the House. They
told us that that's happening this month, which will pull
them out of the Conservation Order, away from dock and
(02:11):
have its own legislation and there's a lot of changes
that's going to be happening in there, and I'll be
really keen to see how far they're actually.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Going to go. You are calling for fishing game to
be stripped of their advocacy powers. Do you stand by that?
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Oh? Yeah, absolutely, I still stand by that. At the
end of the day, they don't have a mandate from
Hunters and Fishes to actually act on their behalf. When
you look at the results from their their council elections
from year and year out and the last election, I
think it was four percent of their license holders turned
out the vote, So that really doesn't give them a
clear mandate to represent hunters and fishes on the advocacy front.
(02:48):
So you're definitely definitely standing behind that.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
Four percent is still four percents on democratic process. So, Jason,
they got given the opportunity, ninety six percent of people didn't.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Absolutely, but ninety six percent a lot of them will
realize they actually don't know if they don't realize they
can vote, And it's part of the process that's been
in the past that if you wanted a vote in
your next election, you have to ticket tick that box
on the license of the year of the elections that
you want to be a voting party in that most
people that actually don't realize that's there. And I do
understand that that might be one of the changes that's
(03:20):
coming in the new legislation that if you become a
license holder, you automatically get the right to vote. You
don't need to worry about ticking that box anymore. So, Yeah,
it'll be interesting to see where that all lands.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
So nothing else. The last twelve months has brought a
lot of awareness around what South em Fish and Game does,
I suppose.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Absolutely, and also what they were creating in the ways
of cost to farmers and cost of the royal sector
and cost to rate payers by challenging everything in court
all the time and trying to express their advocacy function,
you know. So that there's definitely brought a lot of
light and a lot of attention around that, and people
are more aware as to what was going on there now. Yeah,
(03:58):
and hopefully we can we're looking to a better future
in that regard.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
Do you find it a bit of a coincidence of
Karena Jordan's come back in as interim Fishing Game Chief executive?
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Look, I think Karina has come back in as an
interim CEO because she's she's got the experience there and
right now they're in a bit of a limbo that
don't know where the organizations organization is actually going to
sit in the next twelve months. That's probably why that
they did bring someone like Karena back in just to
oversee this next transitional phase and so they know exactly
(04:29):
where they're going to be into the future, so then
they can look for the appropriate cea s, you know,
to guide them into the future once they know where
where this new legislation lands for them.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
So as far as this fishing boycott that occurred twelve
months ago, that's no longer on the cards. Yeah, I know.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
So we've called the boycott off for now and calling
a truce with Fishing Games Southland, and you know, if
they moved back into what they were doing before, then
it'll be it'll be kind of bad for them if
we have to call for another boycott. But I don't
think that's going to happen, not under Dave for watch,
I don't think. So, Yeah, let's just what's the space
to see where it goes, and we're developing that relationship
(05:07):
as we go.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
Yes, something that's good for mental health. There's a touch
of fishing for a lot of people now mental Health
Awareness Week, it's a big topic for a lot of
farmers at the moment, just trying to decipher the top
three inches after what we've had getting through lambing and carving. Jason,
you're pretty well qualified to speak about this.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Yeah, So this is why I do what I do now,
and why I joined Feed's was because of my mental
health struggles that I've had in the past, Andy, and
and you know, I'm very forthcoming about my experiences in
that in that field, and you know, especially this time
of year when you're in the in the peak of carving,
starting to prepare for mating, and the sheep farmers are
out there, you know, just beginning their lambing in a
(05:48):
lot of parts of South and or just coming to
the end in some parts as well. And the stresses
of the weather, the constant barhs of legislation and regulation
and red tape and not knowing what's come at you,
you know, And to be honest, I was one of
those farmers that really got stuck in the epathy faith
where you just stick ahead in the scene and hope
(06:09):
it's all going to go away and someone else is
going to deal with it, and you end up putting
your head further and further in that sceand to the
point where that you're drowning, and you know that's not
a good thing. So Mental Health Awareness Week is always
bringing that awareness to your own mental health and the
top three inches and making sure that you're actually putting
that at the forefront of your thought pattern and knowing
(06:30):
that there are things and organizations out there to help
you get through tough times. You know.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
I smoke to Catherine right on the subject yesterday about
farmers recognizing their mental health and no longer being a
stigma about not feeling okay. Do you think that's right?
Speaker 2 (06:47):
Absolutely correct. I've got a lot of time for Catherine,
And in fact, I was part of her study and
her thesis for her qualification at university, and so I've
been working quite a bit with Kevin over the over
the last few that number of years. And yeah, she's
definitely heading in the right direction, and I've got a
lot of time for her, and when she speaks, I
think everybody should listen.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Just finally, rather poignant considering what we've been talking over
the last couple of months. But this is about democracy,
getting out there and making your vote count in the
local body elections. Uptake so far as pretty small, yes
it is.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
I encourage everybody if you if you've got the chis
to vote, get in and vote and actually make your
voice heard. This is how we form our local governments
into the next three years, right, So the regional council
absolute pertinent that we get the right council around the table.
So if you haven't voted, you get out there and vote,
stand up and be counted. And don't think for one
(07:43):
minute that your vote won't won't make a difference. It
actually does, especially when you're talking about numbers, and at
the moment we're floating in the twenty percent range of
people actually out and vote out of the you know,
out of everyone that can vote, and that's pretty before.
We need to get that well up into the into
the seventies and eighties. If not as closer to one hundred, the.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
Better, good only Jason, always appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Welcome, Andy, have a have a great halfnoon, Bud.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Jason Herrick a South Confederated Farmers. This is the muster.
Next we're a way to South Otago, let's have a
chin wag with Nigel Woodhead,
Welcome back to the muster Jason Herrick as President of
South con Federated Farmers Jason, good afternoon. Finally we're having
a couple of days of warmer or warmish weather.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Yeah, isn't it delightful any when the sun comes out
and warms up a bit? That sort of lifts the
morale of a lot of people.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Didn't it. It's basically been just a frustrating spring yet
again after what has been a pretty good winter unfortunately,
as we've talked about.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Yeah, no, sort of a rinse and repeat from last year,
isn't it. And I know there's a lot of farmers
out there frustrated at the moment about about the amount
of moisture that's fallen and in the constant bearrage of
the old hail storm and a few snow flurries coming
through and call the temperatures. But you know, it is
spring and at the end of the day, we've got
to look to the future and sun walk come out
(01:00):
on another day. But weather like this that improves it
definitely lifts the morale of farmers out there. That's so.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Yeah, Welcome to life in Southland now. Fishing game there
sounds as though there's been some headway, mean between yourself
and the organization. You've gone hard on South and fishing
game over the last twelve months, but there's been a
bit of a breakthrough there. I don't think I've spoken
to you about that since with other matters arising, but
certainly this sounds like a positive between the two organizations.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Yeah, absolutely so we're getting we're getting, you know, closer
to the end now of what we were asking the
Minister to do. And but with that Southern fishing game,
they've come and leaps and bounds, and with Dave McGregor
taking over the chairmanships doing a really good job there
and being very communicative and very transparent and open to conversation.
And we're not always going to agree on things, but
(01:51):
at the end of the day, he's open to have
those conversations and we are talking and getting a little
bit more charity and we're going to see some of
that result this month with the government introducing the new
bill and legislation for fishing Game into the House. They
told us that that's happening this month, which will pull
them out of the Conservation Order, away from dock and
(02:11):
have its own legislation and there's a lot of changes
that's going to be happening in there, and I'll be
really keen to see how far they're actually.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Going to go. You are calling for fishing game to
be stripped of their advocacy powers. Do you stand by that?
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Oh? Yeah, absolutely, I still stand by that. At the
end of the day, they don't have a mandate from
Hunters and Fishes to actually act on their behalf. When
you look at the results from their their council elections
from year and year out and the last election, I
think it was four percent of their license holders turned
out the vote, So that really doesn't give them a
clear mandate to represent hunters and fishes on the advocacy front.
(02:48):
So you're definitely definitely standing behind that.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
Four percent is still four percents on democratic process. So, Jason,
they got given the opportunity, ninety six percent of people didn't.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Absolutely, but ninety six percent a lot of them will
realize they actually don't know if they don't realize they
can vote, And it's part of the process that's been
in the past that if you wanted a vote in
your next election, you have to ticket tick that box
on the license of the year of the elections that
you want to be a voting party in that most
people that actually don't realize that's there. And I do
understand that that might be one of the changes that's
(03:20):
coming in the new legislation that if you become a
license holder, you automatically get the right to vote. You
don't need to worry about ticking that box anymore. So, Yeah,
it'll be interesting to see where that all lands.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
So nothing else. The last twelve months has brought a
lot of awareness around what South em Fish and Game does,
I suppose.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Absolutely, and also what they were creating in the ways
of cost to farmers and cost of the royal sector
and cost to rate payers by challenging everything in court
all the time and trying to express their advocacy function,
you know. So that there's definitely brought a lot of
light and a lot of attention around that, and people
are more aware as to what was going on there now. Yeah,
(03:58):
and hopefully we can we're looking to a better future
in that regard.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
Do you find it a bit of a coincidence of
Karena Jordan's come back in as interim Fishing Game Chief executive?
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Look, I think Karina has come back in as an
interim CEO because she's she's got the experience there and
right now they're in a bit of a limbo that
don't know where the organizations organization is actually going to
sit in the next twelve months. That's probably why that
they did bring someone like Karena back in just to
oversee this next transitional phase and so they know exactly
(04:29):
where they're going to be into the future, so then
they can look for the appropriate cea s, you know,
to guide them into the future once they know where
where this new legislation lands for them.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
So as far as this fishing boycott that occurred twelve
months ago, that's no longer on the cards. Yeah, I know.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
So we've called the boycott off for now and calling
a truce with Fishing Games Southland, and you know, if
they moved back into what they were doing before, then
it'll be it'll be kind of bad for them if
we have to call for another boycott. But I don't
think that's going to happen, not under Dave for watch,
I don't think. So, Yeah, let's just what's the space
to see where it goes, and we're developing that relationship
(05:07):
as we go.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
Yes, something that's good for mental health. There's a touch
of fishing for a lot of people now mental Health
Awareness Week, it's a big topic for a lot of
farmers at the moment, just trying to decipher the top
three inches after what we've had getting through lambing and carving. Jason,
you're pretty well qualified to speak about this.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Yeah, So this is why I do what I do now,
and why I joined Feed's was because of my mental
health struggles that I've had in the past, Andy, and
and you know, I'm very forthcoming about my experiences in
that in that field, and you know, especially this time
of year when you're in the in the peak of carving,
starting to prepare for mating, and the sheep farmers are
out there, you know, just beginning their lambing in a
(05:48):
lot of parts of South and or just coming to
the end in some parts as well. And the stresses
of the weather, the constant barhs of legislation and regulation
and red tape and not knowing what's come at you,
you know, And to be honest, I was one of
those farmers that really got stuck in the epathy faith
where you just stick ahead in the scene and hope
(06:09):
it's all going to go away and someone else is
going to deal with it, and you end up putting
your head further and further in that sceand to the
point where that you're drowning, and you know that's not
a good thing. So Mental Health Awareness Week is always
bringing that awareness to your own mental health and the
top three inches and making sure that you're actually putting
that at the forefront of your thought pattern and knowing
(06:30):
that there are things and organizations out there to help
you get through tough times. You know.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
I smoke to Catherine right on the subject yesterday about
farmers recognizing their mental health and no longer being a
stigma about not feeling okay. Do you think that's right?
Speaker 2 (06:47):
Absolutely correct. I've got a lot of time for Catherine,
And in fact, I was part of her study and
her thesis for her qualification at university, and so I've
been working quite a bit with Kevin over the over
the last few that number of years. And yeah, she's
definitely heading in the right direction, and I've got a
lot of time for her, and when she speaks, I
think everybody should listen.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Just finally, rather poignant considering what we've been talking over
the last couple of months. But this is about democracy,
getting out there and making your vote count in the
local body elections. Uptake so far as pretty small, yes
it is.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
I encourage everybody if you if you've got the chis
to vote, get in and vote and actually make your
voice heard. This is how we form our local governments
into the next three years, right, So the regional council
absolute pertinent that we get the right council around the table.
So if you haven't voted, you get out there and vote,
stand up and be counted. And don't think for one
(07:43):
minute that your vote won't won't make a difference. It
actually does, especially when you're talking about numbers, and at
the moment we're floating in the twenty percent range of
people actually out and vote out of the you know,
out of everyone that can vote, and that's pretty before.
We need to get that well up into the into
the seventies and eighties. If not as closer to one hundred, the.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
Better, good only Jason, always appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Welcome, Andy, have a have a great halfnoon, Bud.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Jason Herrick a South Confederated Farmers. This is the muster.
Next we're a way to South Otago, let's have a
chin wag with Nigel Woodhead,
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