I do have a close relationship with them but do not like the pedantic text book experts. When Dunedin lost the Conservator for Otago and Southland they lost one of the people I most respected - Marion Van der Goes (Sp) who tragically died of Cancer.
As far as fisheries are concerned I have attended many courses and have some say in my home area where my warrant applies though I do not live there.
I also attended many meetings as a representative of my organisation in relationship to farming practices and the pollution of the waterways and liaised with DoC to get prosecutions for infringements of the hunting permits DoC issued as well as other things.
I happen to be a book of many pages…and my beliefs are firstly and most importantly the environment and its protection and the rights of decent honest New Zealanders to enjoy their land and all it has to offer - hunting, gold fossicking, access, walkways etc but I do not like draconian laws and those who enforce them - even though some are friends! We have our arguments.