This year has been momentous. As we edge closer to 2012, it is timely to reflect on the challenges that we have faced in the last 12 months, as well as the highlights.

There have been major extraneous events that will impact on New Zealand’s fisheries and our ability to maximise the Maori investment in the sector. In February, Otautahi was struck with a 6.3 magnitude earthquake that resulted in much of the city’s central business district destroyed. The economic reverberations of the quake will be felt for years. Large amounts of Government money are being channelled into the rebuilding of our second largest city, and this will have a flow-on effect to funding available for other areas of the Government sector. On the back of the global financial crisis, with lines of credit tightening up, we can expect monetary constraints on the government for the foreseeable future, and funding earmarked for the fisheries budget is not exempt.

In spite of that, the regulatory and legislative changes in the fisheries and marine environment areas continue apace. Te Ohu Kaimoana and iwi representatives have worked to influence numerous policy proposals during the year. We spent considerable effort in understanding and managing the changes to aquaculture legislation and regulations so the final result would benefit iwi. The work we undertook in relation to the rules on Undue Adverse Effects (UAE) was detailed and lengthy. Staff have worked on sustainability measures that saw the increase in the hoki TACC by 10,000 tonnes, a direct benefit to iwi. All of this work is detailed in our annual report, which has been sent to iwi this month and is now available online. (To view, click here)

Te Ohu Kaimoana thanks all iwi for their input during the year to the numerous submissions we have sent out for your comment and all the other work that you have done to support our role. We will aim to work just as collaboratively in the year ahead.

Another area of change for Te Ohu Kaimoana has been the appointment of four new directors to the board, by the Iwi Electoral College Te Kawai Taumata: Matiu Rei, the executive director of Te Runanga O Toa Rangatira; Hinerangi Raumati, the executive director operations for Te Wananga o Aotearoa in Te Awamutu, New Zealand’s second largest tertiary education institution; Jamie Tuuta, the recently appointed Maori Trustee, and Ken Mair, who is experienced in governance and leadership roles. The staff and managers look forward to working with them over the next few years. Also, congratulations to our deputy chair, Sonny Tau, who has been reappointed for a further term. Te Ohu Kaimoana thanks the immediate past directors for their contribution.

Next year, we aim to continue meeting with iwi to discuss our views contained within the paper “Weaving Together Our Common Interests in Fishing”, which we released at the Maori Fisheries Conference in May. This document contains our suggestions on advancing a key theme in the Kaimoana Strategy – ‘Integrated management’.  We want to encourage and promote discussion about the ways in which iwi can better manage their fishing interests through resolving emerging conflicts between iwi fishing interests, and ultimately between iwi and hapu. 

The political situation as a result of this year’s general election remains relatively unchanged with National, ACT, United Future and the Maori Party working together. For fisheries, however, we have seen a change with former Minister of Agriculture, David Carter, being appointed as Minister of Primary Industries, including fisheries. We have always received a good hearing from the Maori Party, and hope that will continue into the future, as they remain supporters of the National-led Government.

We can’t finish our last newsletter for the year without mentioning the All Blacks victorious win in the Rugby World Cup. It was hard-fought and the injury toll began to mount. But with determination and will power, it provides an example of the effort it takes to succeed. In 2012, Te Ohu Kaimoana will continue to work to ensure that iwi are successful too, in the fisheries sector.

Te Ohu Kaimoana, its directors, managers and staff wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year. See you in 2012.

Peter Douglas
Chief Executive