Donations run risk of affecting MPs on fishing policy

57% (2,298,000 adults) believe donations from commercial interests run a risk of influencing decisions made by Members of Parliament.

Only 7% think they are unlikely to influence decisions, a Horizon Research survey finds.

Similarly, 57% (2,298,000 adults) said that a Member of Parliament who has accepted donations from the fishing industry should not be Minister of Oceans and Fisheries. The same number say a MP who has accepted 

Only 8% say it is acceptable.

A third (1,326,000 adults) do not trust Shane Jones, the Minister of Oceans and Fisheriesto look after the health of our oceans and fisheries. Mr Jones and his party New Zealand first have reportedly recevied donations from the fihsing industry.

The survey of 1,038 people aged 18 was commissioned by Greenpeace and conducted between 2^nd and 8^th February 2024. 1,038 adults, 

The maximum margin of error is ±3% (at the 95% confidence level). The data was weighted on age, education, ethnicity, personal income, region and Party Vote 2023 to match the New Zealand adult population.

57% (2,298,000 adults) believed donations from commercial interests run a risk of influencing decisions made by Members of Parliament. National Party voters are least likely to believe this.

• 79% of Green Party voters
• 60% of Te Pāti Māori voters
• 60% of ACT voters
• 49% of New Zealand First voters
• 59% of Labour Party voters
• 45% of National Party voters.

57% (2,298,000 adults) said that a Member of Parliament who has accepted donations from the fishing industry should not be Minister of Oceans and Fisheries. There are differences in opinions among voters.

• 80% - Green Party
• 79% - Te Pāti Māori
• 65% - Labour Party
• 52% - ACT
• 50% -National Party
• 42% - New Zealand First.

In a statement, Greenpeace says the result  comes after a week where Jones wined and dined with fishing industry bosses who financed his election campaign.

Greenpeace oceans campaigner Ellie Hooper says the data speaks for itself.

“This polling shows the clear lack of trust that New Zealanders have in Shane Jones as the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries. They simply don’t believe that he’s going to look after the marine life New Zealanders hold dear, from deep sea coral to whales and seabirds,”  she says.

“New Zealanders are fair-minded, and they see it as a serious issue that Jones takes donations from the commercial fishing sector when he is responsible for regulating that industry.

Other results of the survey show strong support for banning bottom trawling in South Pacific international waters and to have cameras on all commercial fishing vessels.

Newsroom on February 19 has coverage of the survey and Mr Jones' policy thinking on bottom trawling and international waters protection.