He kupu whakataki

He Kororia ki te Atua
He maungarongo ki runga i te whenua
He whakaaro pai ki nga tangata katoa
Nga whakaaro ki a ratou kua wheturangitia, me ou ratou whanau i noho ai i raro i te kapua pouri. Nga manaakitanga o te Atua ki runga i a tatou katoa.

This September, the Maori Fisheries Trust, Te Ohu Kaimoana, will have distributed the first Maori Commercial Fisheries Assets to a number of iwi organisations that have implemented approved constitutions and management structures as outlined in the Maori Fisheries Act.

I am pleased to see the flow of these fisheries assets to iwi 16 years since the passing of the original Maori Fisheries Act in 1989 and 13 years since the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries (Claims Settlement) Act 1992.

Considerable hard work by iwi representatives and Te Ohu Kaimoana staff has enabled this to occur.

The iwi included in receiving this first transfer of assets are Ngapuhi and Ngati Kahu ki Whaingaroa, in Northland; Te Aitanga a Mahaki near Gisborne and Ngati Rarua in Motueka.

The flow of assets from the long stewardship of Te Ohu Kaimoana into the hands of iwi is a time for celebration, not only for those iwi that have become mandated, but for those who are still working their way through this process. Te Ohu staff is here to assist iwi with meeting the legislative requirements to receive these assets, our goal is to have all iwi organisations through the process by 2010.

On another note, Te Ohu Kaimoana Chairman Shane Jones has entered Parliament as a Labour MP following the 17 September election. We congratulate Shane and wish him a prosperous and successful Parliamentary career.

Kia ora,

Peter Douglas
Chief Executive Officer

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Tiakina ngā rawa hi ika, a tātou kaimoana mo ngā uri whakaheke
Protecting Māori fisheries assets for future generations

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