A recreational fisherman has been stripped of his South-East Marine Protection Forum membership for sending an ''offensive'' email which included comments stereotyping Maori.
Kaka Point resident Nelson Cross, the forum member representing recreational fishermen, said he received a letter from Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and Associate Conservation Minister Nicky Wagner on Monday informing him of his forum dismissal.
''They didn't think I suited them ... It was bang, bang, you're gone.''
In 2014, the Government appointed 16 forum members to work on proposals for sites for possible inclusion in a network of marine-protected areas from north of the Pareora River, near Timaru, to Waipapa Point, in Southland.
Mr Cross said he was dismissed because people were ''offended'' by a ''tongue-in-cheek'' letter he wrote about five years ago.
He emailed the letter to about 60 recreational fishers across the South Island about a fortnight ago.
The email was about recreational fishers ''slipping'' down the ''hierarchy'' of stakeholders, including commercial and customary fishers, he said.
In the newsletter, he called a past government a ''bunch of girlie boys'' and referred to Maoris discovering ''KFC and the TAB and the joys of sedentary living while on a benefit''.
The 1600-word email used ''caricatures'' and ''stereotypes'' and was designed to be humorous and never intended to be racist, Mr Cross said.
''I have good friends who are Maori who have read it and they have no problems.''
However, he understood why some people could find it ''disturbing'' and sent an apology to everyone on his mailing list.
''I did not intend to disrespect anyone - it was meant to be humorous; I am not a racist, that's for sure.''
Mr Cross said he was proud of his work on the forum.
Public submissions on the proposed areas close at 5pm on December 20.
''I have no regrets. It would have been nice to finish it but that's not to be,'' Mr Cross said.
Department of Conservation planning, permissions and land director Marie Long said forum chairwoman Maree Baker-Galloway alerted the Government to the email.
''The email was inappropriate and caused offence, which calls into question his suitability to be part of a forum tasked with working closely with the community,'' Ms Long said.
Mr Cross had ''worked very hard'' on the forum and it was ''very unfortunate'' his role had ended, Ms Long said.
Another forum member would be appointed to represent recreational fishing interests, she said.
Tautuku Fishing Club president Brett Bensemann, of Dunedin, said Mr Cross had represented recreational fishers well on the forum.
''It's sad to see this happening because of a comment.''
The comments Mr Cross made in the email did not concern him.
''It's fisher talk ... It's sad to see this has happened to a good man.''
Ms Baker Galloway declined to comment on whether the email was offensive or racist but believed the dismissal was the correct course of action.
