Quango ‘cull’ resumes

Press, 11 July 1989, Page 2

Quango ‘cull’ resumes

PA Wellington The open season on quangoes has resumed with the Minister for the Environment, Mr Palmer, announcing yesterday plans to cull 54 by the introduction of a Conservation Law Reform Bill. Quangoes (quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations) and particularly small conservation management committees have been the favourite prey of Mr Palmer in the past. Quangoes culled last year, for example, included the committee of the Cape-Rodney Okakari Point Marine Reserve, the Fauna Protection Advisory Council and the National Recreational Hunting Advisory Committee. Mr Palmer said yesterday the new bill would restructure the shape and nature of quangoes functioning under the Department of Conservation. Nature and conservation quangoes would be reduced from 60 to 23 and the fishing and game quangoes from 24 to 13. There was no central register of quangoes, Mr Palmer said. “Quite a number have been bagged but they continue to multiply. There needs to be a better method of bringing them under Government control and scrutiny. “This is a very significant reduction and rationalisation.”