In the Media

As the peak body for New Zealand’s seafood sector, we engage openly in public discussions about our industry. This page brings together recent media stories featuring insights from Seafood NZ and our members – promoting sustainable fisheries and correcting misinformation.

Date Publication Headline & Link
August 2026
18 Aug Paddy Gower Has Issues - Season 3, Episode 3 Sam Hayes joins Paddy with an in-depth report on what's killing our hoiho (penguin). Karen needs your help to save the lives of hundreds of retired greyhounds.
18 Aug Stuff Samantha Hayes: Just 326 hoiho remain. Can New Zealand save its most endangered penguin?
12 Aug Localmatters Leigh's fishing community reunites to remember the good old days
6 Aug Otago Daily Times Marine reserves will put pressure on other areas, fishers say
3 Aug RNZ Morning Report
1 Aug The Press Snapper deaths reignite fishing fight as Shane Jones eyes recreational reporting rules
July 2026
28 July RNZ Protection for hoiho around Otago Peninsula to be made permanent
27 July The Post Hurry up and wait: RMZ replacement rush leaves key sectors in decision limbo
6 July Newsroom Hidden scientific error helped mask Tarakihi fishery collapse
3 July RNZ Environment group hails court decision on orange roughy catch-limit
3 July RNZ Seafood NZ discusses calls for a ban on fishing tarakihi
3 July NewstalkZB "Unhelpful": Fishers push back against 'extinction' comments amid rapid decline of fish and chip staple
2 July RNZ Tarakihi stocks in shocking state after decades of overfishing, advocates warn
June 2026
24 June RNZ Nelson business aims to build first crew-free commercial fishing boats
22 June CountryWide CONNECT Lisa Futschek - Seafood NZ reacts to fisheries bill shelving
19 June RNZ After three years of planning, a decommissioned fishing trawler took just 10 minutes to sink
19 June Newstalk ZB 'Passion translated into misinformation': Industry disppointed by delay to fisheries amendment bill
18 June RNZ Controversial fisheries amendment Bill delayed after Shane Jones request
18 June RNZ Bottom Trawling from a Commercial Fishermen's Perspective
15 June The Press High Court showdown over who pays for fisheries surveillance
12 June RNZ - The Panel The Panel with Steve McCabe and Holly Bennett
11 June The Post Is the Attenborough Effect turning Kiwis against bottom trawling?
9 June RNZ Fishing vessel skipper discusses bottom trawling
2 June Stuff 'They did exactly the right thing': Local fishers save rare whale
1 June NZ Ocean News We Went to the Fishing Industry's Biggest Conference
May 2026
27 May Newsroom Wokes, women and one w**ker...the votes Shane Jones doesn't seem to want
26 May Stuff Shane Jones slams 'small appendage' critics and Death protester, but they could hook another fishing law backdown
26 May The Post Shane Jones calls on fishing industry to stand up against its detractors
25 May Nelson Mail / The Press Blessing of the fleet draws thousands to honour fishers and lost loved ones
20 May Herald NOW Business Fisheries Bill reignites battle over NZ seafood future
18 May RNZ Olympian Blair Tuke calls on government to scrap Fisheries legislation
18 May Newsroom Cameras on boats reveal second-highest Hector's dolphin bycatch in a decade
2 May The Nelson Mail Maritime NZ: Working with commercial fishers to support safety in the sector
April 2026
30 Apr Otago Daily Times Sea lion breeding success hailed
24 Apr The Platform The Fishing Industry Is At Serious Risk With The High Prices Of Fuel`
24 Apr Newsroom SPCA takes on big fish in cameras-on-boats feeding frenzy
24 Apr Stuff Ministers hesitant to promise targeted support to fuel-strapped fishers
20 Apr Newsroom Fishing industry fears 'going backwards' with new laws empowering council bans
18 Apr Stuff Diesel prices threaten to turn local fish shops into 'just chip shops'
14 Apr NewstalkZB Andrew Dickens: The India Free Trade agreement remains uncertain
14 Apr Hospitality Business Kiwi Food Excellence Shines as OFPA Marks 10-Year Milestone
14 Apr Wairarapa Times-Age 'Knuckling down and hoping': How Wairarapa businesses are doing it tough
13 Apr RNZ New Zealand's top exporters call on Parliament to back free trade agreement with India
12 Apr NelsonMail / The Press 'Misinformation' or 'uncomfortable truths'? What both sides say about bottom trawling
5 Apr RNZ Sunday Morning with Jim Mora
1 Apr RNZ - Nine to Noon The role of certification schemes in preserving fish stocks
1 Apr The Post Global hoki heroes take The Post shopping for fish in a New Zealand supermarket
March 2026
27 Mar Wairarapa Times Wairarapa fishing industry on alert for fuel-driven cost pressures
26 Mar NewstalkZB Kerry Woodham Mornings
26 Mar RNZ U-turn on fish sizes not enough for some
25 Mar Nelson Mail / The Press Fishing giant loses at least $4 million to high diesel price
24 Mar RNZ - The Panel The Panel with Mary Lambie and Simon Wilson, Part 1
24 Mar 1News Debate grows over proposed changes to commercial fishing size limits
23 Mar RNZ Shane Jones labels critics of fisheries bill as 'noisy voices'
23 Mar SNZ Media Release Seafood NZ calls for fact-based discussion on Fisheries Amendment Bill
23 Mar RNZ - First Up with Ross McNaughton Fisheries Amendment Bill has plenty of critics
20 Mar NZ Herald Bill would remove commercial minimum snapper size under fisheries reforms
19 Mar Newsroom Hefty penalty for leaking commercial fishing footage [paywalled]
18 Mar SNZ Media Release Seafood sector welcomes introduction of Fisheries Amendment Bill
16 Mar Waikato Times NZ proposal to weaken deep-sea coral protections rejected at Pacific fisheries meeting [paywalled]
13 Mar RNZ Fishing for votes: Fishing regulations, and the balance between recreational and commercial interests are shaping up as an election issue
12 Mar The Press Middle East War: Disruption to NZ seafood sector - retail price rises set to follow [paywalled]
11 Mar Otago Daily Times Hoiho face extinction in the wild, despite our best efforts [paywalled]
7 Mar Stuff No longer cheap as chips: Would you pay $30 for this classic family feed?
5 Mar RNZ Fine for unreported Hector's dolphin death reveals toothless system, conservation group says
4 Mar 1News Fishing in NZ waters overhaul - 'cock up' or 'once in a lifetime shot'?
4 Mar The Press [print] PM says he 'misspoke'
4 Mar FMGC Business Outstanding Food Producer Awards hits new heights for 10th anniversary
3 Mar NZ Herald Lord Howe Rise deep-sea coral ‘proof’ ramps up bottom trawling clash
2 Mar The Detail The Detail: Net fishing is in, then out again as National Party does a backflip
February 2026
25 Feb The Post Ministers clash over Hauraki Gulf protections (Paywalled)
22 Feb RNZ News Bulletin
8 Feb Meeting Newz [print] Don’t Underestimate Nelson
5 Feb Newstalk ZB
5 Feb Otago Daily Times [print] Court's hoiho ruling being taken as win (Paywalled)
4 Feb The Post ‘Every bird counts’: New 20% crash in hoiho nests (Paywalled)
4 Feb SNZ Media Release Seafood New Zealand Responds To High Court Decision On Hoiho Fishing Closure
January 2026
16 Jan NZ Herald Shane Jones plans bycatch rule shake-up to cut costs for deepwater fishers (Paywalled)
12 Jan NZ Herald Spearfisher Darren Shields urges Shane Jones to end bottom trawling (Paywalled)
7 Jan Newsroom Potaka accused of hiding behind court case at endangered turtles’ expense (Paywalled)
December 2025
26 Dec NZ Herald Fishing host Matt Watson accuses Shane Jones of favouring commercial industry ‘mates’ (Paywalled)

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