NZ fishing guides call for cap on number of seasonal Australian guides

Australian fishing guides are crowding out locals, says the New Zealand Professional Guides Association, and a new license is needed.Association president Dean Bell told Checkpoint Australian guides were coming to stay for about three to four months in the summer, and operate through a social license with New Zealand recreational anglers.He said it was a "numbers game" and New Zealand's resources were finite."There's a limited number of fishable rivers and in that a limited number of trout. These trout are only catchable for certain periods and they'll stop feeding."That's led the association to call for an "effective guides license" and a serious look at capping the number of guides in the country."We would make it that you would have to pay tax in New Zealand to start with, the Australian guides coming in through a tax arrangement do not have to pay any GST or tax in New Zealand."Bell said Minister for Hunting and Fishing James Meager has said the closer economic relations agreement with Australia means the guides can work in New Zealand."Currently he's correct on that but that's also not reciprocated for New Zealanders wanting to go and guide in Australia," Bell said.He said regulations for fishing in Australia varied state by state which made it difficult in some regions for New Zealanders to "just rock up" and start guiding.In a statement to Checkpoint, Meager said he was not considering a guide's license because not enough evidence had been given to show one was needed.He encouraged interested parties to develop the case, including Fish and Game, though said he was yet to see any material for it.Meager also said New Zealand and Australia have a long-standing trade agreement and that means citizens of both countries can work as nationals in either one.That means any potential licensing regime would mean Australian guides would still be able to work in New Zealand under the same terms as their New Zealand counterparts.