Tena koutou
Tena koutou i roto i te wa o te aroha, i roto i te wa o te whanautanga
o te Karaiti.

Kia maumahara ki nga mate o te wa, me o ratou whanau i noho i raro i te kapua pouri.

Ratou te hunga mate ki a ratou, ko tatou te hunga ora tena koutou katoa.

Welcome to our second fisheries iKARERE - our new tool to keep you informed of important fisheries issues. It's part of Te Ohu Kaimoana's commitment to keeping iwi up to date on the complex issues and happenings that will impact on them.

That's the serious part.

However, it's also Christmas, and the Board and Management and Staff of
Te Ohu Kaimoana would like to take this opportunity to wish all those individuals and organisations we have worked with and on behalf of this year a safe and happy festive season with those closest to them.

We look forward to working with you all again in 2009 as we continue to advance the interests of Maori and Maori fisheries.

In the meantime, here is some important Christmas reading!
Ka nui nga mihi mo te Kirihimete me te Tau Hau.

ACE turnaround time getting faster
The first invoices for the October 2008 annual catch entitlement (ACE) round went out in late October – a lot earlier than in previous years, Te Ohu Kaimoana Senior Policy Analyst Dianne Collier says. “All the iwi representatives who encouraged other iwi within their FMAs (fisheries management areas) to get their documentation in quickly should take a bow. They did a great job,” she said. Top of the pops would be Hally Toia who returned Ngati Whatua’s Deeds and Share Agreement documentation in a record 24 hours – “now there’s a challenge for future rounds!” Dianne said. The October round also contained three disputes lodged by iwi. These have been isolated to the affected iwi, allowing the remaining iwi within the relevant FMAs to receive their ACE entitlements. Two of the disputes have been settled, and the third is set to be resolved.
(Dianne.Collier@teohu.maori.nz).

Te Ohu Kaimoana Annual Report details year of transition
The Te Ohu Kaimoana Annual Report for 2008 is now out, and reflects what has been a big year for the organisation and the world of Maori fisheries, Chief Executive Peter Douglas says. “We’re in transition between the securing of fisheries rights and the responsibilities of exercising those rights,” he says in the introduction. Te Ohu Kaimoana is becoming more and more pivotal in protecting the best interests – short, medium and long term – of iwi and Maori, Peter said. The Annual Report documents the fact that just nine iwi have yet to become mandated iwi organisations (MIOs), and the rapid development of aquaculture, a move from “hunting to farming” fish and other marine life. Te Ohu Kaimoana is determined that Maori will be a big part of that growth. “Maori were fishing a thousand years ago. We plan to be fishing in a thousand years' time. Te Ohu Kaimoana will be part of making that happen,” Peter says. The Annual Report can be found at www.teohu.maori.nz

Fisheries Minister to attend Hui-a-Tau
The new Minister of Fisheries, Hon Phil Heatley, will give the opening address at January’s joint Te Ohu Kai Moana Trustee Limited and Aotearoa Fisheries Limited Hui-a-Tau. Te Ohu Kaimoana Chief Executive Peter Douglas said he was delighted that the Minister had agreed to speak at such an important occasion so early in his new role. “I think that reflects the importance of Maori fisheries, but also the robust, constructive and positive relationship that Te Ohu Kaimoana has developed with Mr Heatley over recent years. It augurs well for a constructive relationship with the new Government.”
The Hui-a-Tau will be at Pipitea Marae, in Wellington, from 9am to 1pm on Friday, 30 January, 2009.

‘Indigenous’ label floated at Cook Islands’ tuna conference
Pacific tuna fishers floated the idea of an “indigenous label” that could provide a future point of difference in their bid for their share of the global tuna market, at the recent Cook Islands Tuna Industry Conference. Te Ohu Kaimoana General Counsel Tama Lloyd, who attended the September conference, said delegates were interested in exploring the possibility of Polynesian countries adopting a ‘Hawaiki’ label based upon their shared whakapapa. “Our whakapapa is unique and provides a point of difference to other fishers. We indigenous fishers can position ourselves strongly in a global market,” Tama says. “The reality is that traceability will become the market norm. Let’s take the idea of point of origin and couple it with a brand that is centred around people of origin.”
Tamarapa.Lloyd@teohu.maori.nz