Alan Simmons has lived in Turangi for the last 30 years and works as a full time fishing guide. Having owned large farm / wilderness properties Alan is now living on a lifestyle block growing a small pine forest, chickens and a Quince orchid.

He has had a lifetime involved in the outdoors and over the years has been close to many of the major outdoor issues which he is still passionate about.

Alan has sat on a number of national body executives, boards, NGO and management groups and is active in promoting fishing and hunting as healthy outdoor activities, particularly through his website FishnHunt.

He also distributes NZ health and welling products around the world, writes and distributes a health newsletter quarterly, is a published author and has had a considerable number of magazine articles published worldwide. He has also appeared in numerous international TV fishing / lifestyle shows and had two fishing videos published.

Alan's interests include writing, art, fishing, hunting and travel to remote untravelled destinations.

Top 5 Issues

1. The banning of helihunting and exclusive access to rivers... completion of the Game Animal Council bill many other outdoor issues such as a totally new pest management strategy leading to the banning of 1080, Access issues to our rivers, lakes and coastline, recreational salt water fishing council and other commercial fishing problems.
2. Review of the Department of Conservation. Change the overall philosophy that drives the department to one based around recreation for current generations coupled with wise preservation of our unique environment for the future. Also change the way the managers of our land are funded.
3. The Corportisation of rural new Zealand coupled with Water Quality.
   Corporate farming has stripped our rural districts of people, schools ect and replaced them with production driven managers and foreign staff who have little respect of countryside traditions or the future welfare of the land or waterways. All that is important is the bottom line.

Personal Profile