Fish and Game councillors resign

Four regional Fish and Game councillors have said they will resign amid a power struggle which has seen a motion of no confidence passed in the organisation's national chief executive, Bryce Johnson.

The motion was passed by seven of the nine councillors at a Central South Island (CSI) council meeting on Thursday, after the public and media were excluded, the Timaru Herald reported.

It is understood CSI chairman Gary Rooney tried to put forward a motion of no confidence in both the New Zealand chairman and chief executive Mr Johnson, but this was voted down.

Sources said Mr Rooney subsequently revised the motion to one of no confidence in the chief executive.

The newspaper said it had obtained emails between Mr Rooney and national chairman Rob Roney, in which Mr Rooney accused the national body of "not having the balls" to get the organisation on track.

He criticised its decision to seek a High Court ruling on whether holders of high country pastoral leases had the right to control access to their farms.

Mr Rooney is a Waimate businessman with interests in earthmoving, farming, and hunting. He helped fund the High Country Accord's defence against Fish and Game.

Mr Roney said Mr Rooney could be perceived to have a conflict of interest.

- NZPA