I have been criticised for hounding an RNZ Morning Report host, during a recent commercial fisheries interview.  Predictable gripes from anti growth whingers who dread my political style. It is the media’s role to spar with MP’s - Instagram scribblers need not intervene.  Radio NZ however must always be vigilant against institutional group think. The best way for their management to boost their ratings is to avoid bias.  Too much of their fisheries coverage is anti-commerce. It is now common to frame marine stories in ways that seek to incriminate commercial fishing. NZ politics is well served by having a robust voice like the Matua to ensure that the anti growth polemic is contested and knocked over! Hauraki Gulf activists are hell bent on terminating companies from trawling.  Recreational fishers want inshore commercial fishermen banned. They overlook the fact that most of us buy fish from the supermarket or at the fish shop. Do they really want their fellow Kiwis to dine on imported farmed Tilapia from Asia.  The truth of the matter is that 85% of fish caught in New Zealand is from trawling. If trawling is banned, fish will be unaffordable.  A luxury item. Maybe not a problem if you own an expensive outboard motor and boat. But inaccessible to a large majority of kiwis.   The challenges of the Hauraki Gulf relate to land based pollution and poor resource management.  Less than 2% of our EEZ is actually exposed to trawling.   It has been happening for decades and we still have healthy fish stocks. Our Quota system has served NZ well. If there is a need to reduce fishing effort our legislation already provides for such outcomes.

My collection of necklaces using Victorian & Edwardian stamp holders, lockets & charms & recycled silver casts of tiny nature finds I've made is now (finally - sorry it's late) in my etsy shop. Each piece is a one-off & many have a woodland theme🌿: etsy.com/uk/shop/silverpebbl…

(I'm at a coffee shop and the guy in front of me in line is placing an incredibly complicated order. The barista is writing it all down.) Guy: "Large cold brew, light ice, oat milk, two pumps vanilla, one pump hazelnut, no classic syrup, add a shot of espresso, a little bit of caramel drizzle on top, and can you put the caramel on the inside of the cup too before you pour everything in?" Barista: *still writing* "Yep." Guy: "Actually make that three pumps vanilla." Barista: *adjusts notes* "Got it." Guy: "And can you put a cold foam on top?" Barista: "Sure." Guy: "With cinnamon on the cold foam?" Barista: "Yep." Guy: "Actually I'm lactose intolerant so the cold foam needs to be oat milk too." Barista: "We only do regular milk cold foam." Guy: "Oh. Okay, skip the cold foam." Barista: "No cold foam. Anything else?" Guy: *thinks* "Whats the difference between the cold brew and the iced coffee?" (The barista takes a slow, quiet breath that I felt in my soul. She explains the difference. The guy nods thoughtfully.) Guy: "I'll do the iced coffee." (The barista crosses out everything she wrote and starts a new cup sleeve. She does not change her expression once. That woman deserves a raise, a bonus, and a 30 minute break immediately following this interaction.)