Meet NZ’s top ‘fish cop’ Steve Ham

Steve Ham says poaching is a big problem on NZ’s coastline. (Image: Supplied)

Thu, 06 Feb 2025

Summer and the sea go hand in hand in this island nation, and in one way or another, probably all of us will have something to do with our fisheries – whether we want to catch them, eat them or maybe just see them when we go for a snorkel. Jem Traylen talks to Steve Ham, our nation’s top “fish cop” or, to give him his formal title, director of fisheries compliance at the Ministry for Primary Industries.Fisheries have been part of our history from the earliest days – they’re mentioned in Article Two...

Subscribe to BusinessDesk

Stay informed on business, government and financial developments across New Zealand.

Deeply researched, twice-edited and fact-checked news
Annual subscribers also receive a complimentary subscription to The Wall Street Journal
Personalised email news alerts, plus gift up to 5 stories a month to non-subscribers

You can cancel anytime with two clicks, an email or a phone call.
Find out more.

We are serious about journalism.

Name {{ registerForm.errors.get('name') }}

Email address {{ registerForm.errors.get('email') }}

Phone Number {{ registerForm.errors.get('phone') }}

Job Title {{ registerForm.errors.get('title') }}

Password Minimum password length of 8 characters.
Require at least one upper and lowercase, numeric, and special character. {{ registerForm.errors.get('password') }}

Repeat password {{ registerForm.errors.get('password_confirmation') }}

We had trouble validating your card. It's possible your card provider is preventing us from charging the card. Please contact your card provider or customer support.

Credit Card

Cardholder's name

{{ __(plans[index].name) | capitalize }} {{ plans[index].attributes.old_price | currency }} {{ plans[index].price | currency }}

All subscriptions auto renew but are easy to cancel.

I Accept The Terms Of Service

{{ registerForm.errors.get('terms') }}

Tax: {{ taxAmount(selectedPlan) | currency }}

Total Price Including Tax: {{ priceWithTax(selectedPlan) | currency }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerSeat ? '/ '+ spark.seatName : '' }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerTeam ? '/ '+ __('teams.team') : '' }} / {{ __(selectedPlan.interval) | capitalize }}

Infrastructure

‘High risk’ Northland project attracting global interest

NZTA is due to request bids from up to three shortlisted consortiums in June.

Oliver Lewis 5:00am

Economy

Slight inflation lift won't stop rate cuts thanks to trade war

Most economists expect annual inflation lifted to 2.4% in 1Q.

Rebecca Howard 5:00am

Slight inflation lift won't stop rate cuts thanks to trade war

Energy

Lodestone moves into retail market

The move is aimed at commercial and industrial customers for now.

Ian Llewellyn 5:00am

Sponsored

Bayleys Total Property Issue 3 out now

Backed by Bayleys’ national strength and global reach

Bayleys

Sponsored

Go beyond reporting zero emissions

Clean energy that helps businesses and communities thrive

Meridian Energy

More Primary Sector

Primary Sector

Urgent call for change in lagging agri-products approval pathway

But the regulators say changes are being made.

Riley Kennedy 5:00am

Primary Sector

TTR files fast-track application to mine Taranaki sand

Seabed mining firm Trans-Tasman Resources has lodged its application to fast-track its project to harvest iron sands off the coast of Taranaki. The firm's parent company, Manuka Resources, told the Australian Securities Exchange (NZX) on Wednesday that the application was lod...

Staff reporters 16 Apr 2025