Media release
Maori “Historical” not Hysterical on Shared Fisheries
21 February 2007
Senior iwi leaders from around the country last night urged political leaders to reject the Ministry of Fisheries proposals on so-called “shared fisheries” in favour of a more considered approach to managing the country’s valuable fisheries resource.
Sixteen Maori representatives from influential iwi attended the meetings with the Maori Party, the National Party and the Labour Party’s Maori Caucus to give their views on the “discussion” document put out by the Ministry last October.
Views on the document close at the end of February and the Minister of Fisheries Jim Anderton has said he wants legislation through Parliament before December this year.
All representatives were united and said comments from the Minister of Fisheries calling Maori interests “hysterical” were not helpful. “We’re not being hysterical over this issue, we’re being historical. The Maori fisheries agreement with the Crown settled historical grievances and the proposals put forward by the Ministry clearly undermine that agreement.”
The law is clear and Maori would support a readjustment of every sector’s quota if the decision was based on sustainability. “But these proposals are being based on supposed ‘value’ and how much one sector values fishing. That is not basing reallocation on issues of scientifically determined sustainability,” they said.
The majority of iwi represented at the meeting hold some of the largest parcels of Maori fisheries settlement quota through the Maori Fisheries Act.
These include Ngapuhi, Ngai Tahu, Ngati Kahungunu, Ngati Porou, Tainui, Te Arawa Waka, Ngati Awa and others. Also attending the meetings on behalf of other Maori fishing interests were Aotearoa Fisheries Limited, which owns the 50 percent shareholding in New Zealand’s largest fishing company Sealord, and Te Ohu Kaimoana, which delivers Maori fisheries settlement assets to iwi.
The group was deeply concerned that the Ministry was providing flawed advice to Mr Anderton.
“Documents obtained through the Official Information Act show Ministry papers making statements that the proposals are generally positive for Maori and were consistent with the 1992 Deed of Settlement between Maori and the Crown,” they said.
[The Deed of Settlement, colloquially known as The Sealord Deal, is the agreement between Maori and the Crown over Treaty of Waitangi claims to customary commercial fisheries and gave rise to the Treaty of Waitangi (Fisheries Claims) Settlement Act 1992.]
“The proposals do not contemplate a one-off adjustment – that is from the commercial sector to the recreational sector – but provide the Minister with the power to make continued and ongoing adjustments to the commercial sector at his discretion. We find it abhorrent that one Minister could change at will this agreement continually into the future and further undermine the value of Maori fishing investments.”
“These sorts of moves by the Government certainly don’t give iwi faith in supporting any cut-off date for Treaty settlements. The effect of the shared fisheries proposals won’t provide Maori with confidence to enter into agreements with the Crown in the future.”
While it was too early to determine the full cost to the Government for reducing the value of the Maori commercial fishing settlement, the Maori claims alone could cost the taxpayer up to $100 million.
The asset value of New Zealand's commercial fish resource as managed under the Quota Management System is estimated at $3.8 billion, according to Statistics New Zealand today.
The group was concerned that Maori were being treated as merely another stakeholder in the Shared Fisheries proposals. “Iwi are the Treaty partner with the Government. We would have serious concerns if this ‘discussion’ document leads to the development of legislation for this without going through a full and comprehensive consultation with Maori.”
“Allowing a greater share of the total allowable catch to one sector just because they have a louder voice seriously undermines the nature and good will of the settlement between Maori and the Crown. Prima facie, we believe this would be a breach of the Deed of Settlement.”
Maori have got together over the last few months and met with commercial industry and recreational fishers.
“Unlike the Ministry of Fisheries, we are not incapable of discussing these issues among the different sectors. The major problem is that there is no representation from the recreational fishing sector and so it is difficult to glean any real information from that sector.”
The group said there were alternatives to the Ministry’s flawed document.
“We have developed proposals that we believe will remove uncertainty from New Zealand’s fishing system. Our suggestions will provide ways in which sustainability decisions can be made through the delivery of full information on level of catch from the different sectors – commercial, customary and recreational.”
Iwi leaders will hold a press conference releasing advanced proposals for management of New Zealand’s entire fisheries system including commercial, recreational and customary. These were likely to be released next week.
ENDS
For more information, contact Te Ohu Kaimoana Communications
Glenn Inwood 021 498 010