Top fly fishers learn from Rotorua's lake restoration experience

The public, as well as a hundred of the world's top fly fishers, will be able to hear the government's perspective on the restoration of Rotorua lakes put by the Conservation Minister, The Hon. Steve Chadwick this weekend in Rotorua.

Mrs Chadwick accompanied the Prime Minister Helen Clark when the $72.1 million rescue package for Rotorua's polluted lakes was announced yesterday. She is the final speaker at an educational conservation symposium which will be attended by all of the teams competing in the 2008 World Fly Fishing Championships at the Kingsgate Hotel on Saturday morning.

Mrs Chadwick who is also the local Rotorua MP warmly welcomed the government's contribution to clean-up costs and acknowledged the work of the many groups and individuals who are part of the Rotorua lakes action programme.

SFFNZ who have organised the conservation symposium says that New Zealand is at the cutting edge of working to clean up its lakes and rivers and this is an opportunity to share our experience with overseas visitors.

The scene will be set by John Green, Chairman of the Lakes Water Quality Society who will illustrate what the problems were with some stark lake photos. Other experts in the field from Fish & Game, MAF, Waikato University and the Rotorua Lakes Restoration Programme will give short presentations, each followed by a question and answer session.

The event is free and open to the public. The full programme is available on the www.nzfishing.com website