Te Ohu Kaimoana will again pay for a representative from each iwi's mandated iwi organisation (MIO) or asset holding company (AHC) to attend the 2009 Seafood Industry Conference, Chief Executive Peter Douglas said today.

"This is an important annual event, and Maori seafood and fisheries interests need to be involved as significant players in this industry, and Te Ohu Kaimoana is committed to supporting that involvement," he said.

"Coming off the back of this month's Maori Fisheries Conference in Napier, the Seafood Industry Conference is an opportunity for iwi and Maori to take their thinking to the wider industry, but also to hear the latest developments and thinking from other parts of the sector."

"Such korero is always important, but never more so than in these tough economic times when we all have to think smart and work smart and work together," Mr Douglas said in encouraging iwi to attend the conference at Te Papa, Wellington, on May 6-7.

He said he hoped that Te Ohu Kaimoana’s sponsorship would encourage people to attend the conference.

NOTE: To take advantage of Te Ohu Kaimoana's sponsorship, iwi should book and pay for their registration for the delegates they wish to attend the conference and then submit the receipt for ONE of those delegates to Te Ohu Kaimoana, which will reimburse the cost. Early bookings are encouraged and the conference details and registration forms can be found at http://www.seafoodconference.co.nz/