We are currently gathering expressions of interest for those people/businesses that may want to enter in the following areas:

-Fish Show Entries

-Aquascaping contests

-Exhibitors

-Sponsors

If you are interested please contact show@hbas.org.nz.

More information will be coming in the coming months

These are sent to all clubs, presidents, secretaries and delegates to also pass on to club members at the time the meetings are held. 

Thanks Maxine

FNZAS meeting minutes 15 05 2023.pdf FNZAS meeting 27 04 2023 (1).pdf FNZAS 31 10 2022 meeting minutes.pdf FNZAS 2022 AGM Minutes.pdf

1- What are the benefits at both club and individual level for being affiliated to the FNZAS?  We no longer receive breeding pins, hardcopies of aquarium world etc.? 

We believe the relatively small cost of being affiliated to the FNZAS provides numerous benefits to clubs and individuals. FNZAS membership helps support one of the longest running hobby groups in the country and gives fish keepers in New Zealand a voice. 

The FNZAS is recognised by governmental organisations as a stakeholder and we represent aquatic hobbyists in New Zealand at a national level to groups such as the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), Department of Conservation (DOC), and the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd. (NIWA). As stakeholders we have been involved with the National Pet Biosecurity Project at the current state / future state workshop, we successfully applied for a TFBIS grant to build an aquatic plant database (the results are now on the website and are a great resource), and more recently with the MPI Pre Import Isolation and Governments  Native Freshwater Bill changes. 

 We also represent hobbyists at a local level by promoting fishkeeping clubs, aquatic rescue organisations, and tradespeople & retailers who supply our hobby.  The FNZAS website Aquarium World (https://aquariumworld.nz) contains a wealth of information for hobbyists. There are numerous articles on many aspects of fish keeping including how-to guides, husbandry guides, and best-practice guides to sustainable fishkeeping. There are extensive and informative databases including approved ornamental fish and invertebrates, native freshwater and marine fish species, and native and introduced aquatic plant species. There is also information on New Zealand biosecurity issues that affect aquatic hobbyists, and a breeding database which is often referred to by other organisations.

The Aquarium World website also contains a number of forums. While these forums have to some extent been superseded by social media sites, in particular Facebook, the forums still provide a central FNZAS repository to post, comment, and store important information that is particularly relevant to the FNZAS such as AGM , biosecurity issues and events that are being held by local clubs; to name a few.

The website also provides an independent platform to post aquatic trades and sales that can be linked to in Facebook. Fish sales are banned on Facebook and listing or referring to them has led to numerous Facebook groups being permanently closed. This is something members need to be aware of and the Aquarium World website provides a useful alternative, that doesn’t cost such as Trade Me.

While underutilised, the Aquarium World website is a great resource and we encourage clubs to introduce members to the many benefits of the website. 

2- Why does the Aquarium World magazine cost so much with so little revenue?  Is there a cheaper option that could be being used? (have publishing costs been reviewed recently?)

Our flagship publication Aquarium World Magazine offers readers a view of fishkeeping in New Zealand that is both relevant, and interesting at a local and global level. The first edition of the magazine was published March 1953 and we continue to publish informative issues for the benefit of hobbyists. Thirteen issues of the new look high quality online magazine have been produced over the last eight years and the magazine is currently being followed by 264 individuals.  

Unfortunately, we no longer offer hard copies of the magazine as the cost of producing and mailing out each issue was increasing and was not able to be covered by interest from the Sievwright Trust. PDF’s of each issue can be downloaded from the Aquarium World website. Hard copies of the magazine can be ordered from ISSUU (https://issuu.com) at the readers’ expense.

In addition as a result of being an FNZAS member you are also able to receive a discount on selected products at a number of aquarium stores around the country. A shop directory can be found on the Aquarium World website and in the Aquarium World magazine. We rely on local knowledge to keep this list updated and to receive a discount you need to produce a FNZAS membership card.  

The FNZAS also maintains a breeding registry (which can be viewed on the Aquarium World website) and offers certificates (PDF’s which can be easily printed) for successful breeds and rebreeds. This database dates back to the 1970's and provides important information on what is being bred and maintained in New Zealand. We congratulate the HBAS for their continued dedication to the breeding scheme, over the last year they have won the competition for the most breeds in a club, Congratulations. .

In regard to breeding pins, the FNZAS has not been supplying breeding pins for a number of years. This issue was raised and discussed by the executive and attendees at the 2011 AGM in Tauranga. While a small number of FNZAS members were in favour of re-introducing breeding pins, most AGM participants were not in favour and prior feedback from clubs also did not support this initiative.

 3- What is the justification of spending so much on a prize that only increased membership by 7 individuals? 

The FNZAS has seen an overall decrease in membership in recent years and several few clubs have folded. As an organisation it is essential that we retain and ideally increase the number of clubs and members. This competition was targeted as a membership drive to try and increase the number of FNZAS members. 

The proposed competition was first discussed on the Executive officers only forum on the Aquarium World website in June 2019 - the discussion around this was that we had excess funds, and we wanted to give back to our members as well as act as a promotional drive for membership to the FNZAS. The discussion evolved from there. 

A large retailer of aquatics approached the FNZAS and asked to promote the membership drive, we accepted. The prize was purchased mainly from our members’ capitation fees to the Federation. We have to charge a capitation fee as it is a legal requirement for running a society. We also receive interest from the Sievwright Trust and revenue from advertisers. The competition was discussed and voted on by the executive. The proposal was also posted on the Executive forum. Unfortunately, no input was received at the time from any  delegates. 

The clubs that promoted the membership drive on their Facebook pages, in their local shops and Pet Expos increased their membership. While we would have liked the membership increases to have been greater we believe this was a worthwhile exercise. If the HBAS has any ideas to increase membership of FNZAS, the Executive team would be happy to hear ideas bought to them by their club delegates that we can then discuss and hopefully evolve them into a reality.

4- Referring to the cost of courier to Nelson, why this was required and why is it so high and why does this cost appear to not have been consulted on and approved before it was invoiced 

 Thank you for explaining this question at the AGM. As explained by the secretary at the AGM this was discussed on forums and was a cost incurred to have all banners and trophies sent to Maxine Lynch so they can be held in one place by an executive member. We have investigated this and have found that we did indeed pay too much for this, the matter has now been dealt with by the FNZAS Executive and monies returned. We appreciate you informing us of this discrepancy. 

 5- What is the justification of the amount spent on the website when the forums have been made mostly redundant by Facebook? 

While Facebook has changed the way many of us interact online as hobbyists, we believe that the Aquarium World website offers several advantages. It is a central repository for FNZAS members to post, comment, and store information that is particularly relevant to the FNZAS.

It is also the Federations public face, our home, a home we own, and it is also a great resource for hobbyists offering a range of hobby/aquarium related information, a breeding registry, useful links, and forums (see Question 1 for more information). 

Social media platforms offer a quick fix. They can provide knowledgeable answers and information but they just as easily provide ill-judged or bad advice and it all soon disappears down the page. And if Facebook deems content objectionable (i.e. fish sales) they can close the site down permanently as has happened with a number of sites and the content is lost. Aquarium World content, databases, and forum threads are there to stay and content and threads are usually answered by experienced club members. 

Social media is easy to use and is very popular not just nationally but internationally; so we are now utilizing this to our benefit, but we always promote going back to the Aquarium World forums and posting on that, then linking to Facebook. 

We are aware how popular social media is and it is a struggle for other forums to compete. The fight to keep forums going is a responsibility of all FNZAS affiliated members. We really appreciate clubs and members using the forums and would love to see more use of it. 

6- Was the financials of the FNZAS released in full? If so why is there no reference to spending on Facebook ads or membership cards? 

Yes - the financials have been released in full. There is one error of overpayment which has now been corrected. 

The Facebook ads and membership card costs were donated by Mark Paterson who wanted it done anonymously. 

The Executive spoke about this after the AGM and we agreed if donations were made that they should be noted by the Treasurer to avoid future confusion. 

The FNZAS Executive appreciates the time taken to ask the above questions. We encourage clubs to come with us ideas or suggestions in ways they think we can better help or promote the Federation. We are open to any suggestions as the FNZAS executive is nothing without its collective of members.  

regards

Maxine Lynch 

(FNZAS vice-president on behalf of the FNZAS executive)

The Waikato Aquarium Society 
Is once again holding the Aquatic Expo.  They are offering free stall space to all FNZAS Affiliated clubs, for the purpose of promoting their club and the hobby. They get visitors from throughout the country so this may be a great way to gain members and networkOnce again the Waikato Aquarium Society is holding the only event of its kind in the country. 
Come along to this great event. 
We still have commercial and non profit organization  limited stall spacers left so if your business or organization that hasn't been contacted yet  please get in touch with the Waikato Aquarium Society committee at aquaticexpo@gmail.com
We are also seeking sponsored prizes for our raffles and give aways this is away for you to promote your business without having to be present.

The opportunity to take part in a raffle for a new aquarium worth over $2000 

ONE LUCKY FINANCIAL MEMBER WILL WIN THIS.

SO MAKE SURE YOUR MEMBERSHIP IS REGISTERED FOR THE DRAW

Capitations-template.xlsx

This months meeting is being held at one of our members houses so please let me know if you wish to come along and are not on the current email list.

Meetings start at 7.30pm and we welcome new members to come along and see what the society is about.

We will also have a stall at the upcoming pet expo being held in porirua keep your eyes peeled for more info on that.

As a not for profit organisation we are looking at ways to fundraise to get back some of the costs for that - if you have any ideas let me know!

As part of the club you are capitated to the FNZAS.  Being a part of the FNZAS allows you to be a part of the breeding scheme and also get a discount at nationally recognized pet shops. For more info see www.aquariumworld.nz  or message me

Upper Hutt Aquarium Society secretary and FNZAS executive member.

It is the facebook group NewZealand Reef Keepers https://www.facebook.com/groups/nzreefkeepers/

They represent the marine keeping side of our great hobby and being an online club also represent the FNZAS moving into the more social media pathway our hobby as taken over the last few years.

Our meetings not being held at the usual place so if you would like to come please let me know asap

Meetings are normally the second wed of each month and we are Wellingtons only aquarium society 

If you want to become a member or you are interested in any of the benefits like the breeding scheme or having a discount from our local supporters The Pet Centre then email uhaquariumsociety@gmail.com 

You dont have to join to come to a meeting to see what we are all about! 

Hope to see you there fishy friends 

For more info see www.aquariumworld.nz
 

Newsletter fnzas bulletin.pdf

eldat the National Aquarium in Napier.

THANK YOU

.

If anything needs changing can you let me know, thank you.

And the Agenda

People standing for positions.pdf

Federation of NZ Aquatic Societies Incorporated AGM 2018.pdf

Video taken not long after opening at 9am Saturday morning.Video by Jim Sytema.

We have a trip coming up to see Rolleys discus set up. Which will be discussed at this meeting. This is only open to club members. 
Please also note that your subs will be due very soon. And an email will come out in regards to this. 

Thanks hope to see you all there 

Welcoming all new members.

If you just want to come out and meet people from within Wellington who also keep fish. This is the place for you!!!

Financial members get a 10% discount at Pet Centre stores on fish products!!! 

Look forward to seeing you there

Topics to be discussed are:

Delegates for this upcoming year

FNZAS Conference

Any remit for conference as have to be in by 14th March 2017.

What we would like to happen this year.

HBAS trip to the National Aquarium

Our condolences to the family of Liam Slattery, a past president of Dunedin Aquarium and Pond Society. He will be dearly missed by local club members and the general fish keeping community.

Hey there Auckland Fishkeepers!

Saturday, September the 24th 

Yup, that’s right, September the 24th – book it in, we’re doing another tank crawl! It’s time to clean those tanks (and ahem, in my case, clean the house a bit) and visit other local fishkeepers for some conversation, fish/plant/equipment swaps and, of course, look at pretty tanks.

Our current plan is to spend the first half of the day visiting houses, and then the second half to visit Local Fish Stores (LFSs) – we expect this to take most of the day, starting around 10am (this may change depending on how many people we have to visit). Opening your house up to the weirdos is completely voluntary, but it’s definitely welcomed.

Want to offer your place to visit? Please email aucklandfishkeepers@hotmail.com (or let an AFA Executive know - on Facebook or via email) with your address and what time(s) you (and your fish) are available.

Want to participate? This is currently open to AFA Financial Members, however non-members are welcome to participate for $5 (or sign-up on the day if you wish ). Please either let us know via Email, or join our Facebook event here (https://www.facebook.com/events/1766240243515732/)

Want to suggest a store to visit? At the moment, where we visit may depend on where abouts we’re going, but feel free to suggest a favourite store that you’d like to introduce others to!

We’re also always looking out for event suggestions, special speakers, or other fun activities available in (or around) Auckland – whether they be fish related or otherwise.

Thanks heaps, we hope to see you soon!
Alex Fleming / Secretary of AFA

Brochure.pdf

This event was organised by the Waikato Aquarium Society. 

New Members welcome, if you join between now and July you go in the draw to win a $50 petrol voucher and if you bring a friend and they join then both of you go in the draw.

This months meeting about the Best Practice Guide to Fish Keeping.

may newsletter.compressed.pdf