Roll-out of fisheries assets continues
The process of mandating iwi organisations and subsequent roll-out of Maori fisheries assets continues as three more iwi were recognised as Mandated Iwi Organisations in November.
The three MIO will jointly receive a total of almost $10 million in quota, income shares in Aotearoa Fisheries Ltd (AFL), and cash.
On the first anniversary of the establishment of Te Ohu Kaimoana, Ngati Awa in the Bay of Plenty, Ngaitakoto in Northland and Atiawa ki Whakarongotai in Waikanae were approved as Mandated Iwi Organisations. These approvals bring to nine the number of iwi that are now mandated to receive fisheries settlement assets.
Te Ohu Kaimoana chief executive Peter Douglas said the recognition of Ngati Awa was important because it was the first time an iwi that had received a land settlement from the Crown was also ready to receive their fisheries allocation. Ngati Awa and the Crown's agreement on historical land claims was recognised in April this year through the Runanga o Ngati Awa Settlement Act.
“We worked hard with the runanga to arrive at an outcome that was consistent with both the Ngati Awa Settlement Act and the Maori Fisheries Act,” Mr Douglas said.
Each iwi will receive their share of the fisheries settlement as outlined in the Maori Fisheries Act. While they initially receive ownership of some deepwater quota, income shares in Aotearoa Fisheries Limited and cash, the inshore, harbour, remaining deepwater and freshwater fishstocks would be allocated once agreements have been reached with adjacent iwi. These agreements can be concluded when those adjacent iwi have also been recognised as MIOs.
Mr Douglas said that the iwi mandating process that was laid down in the Maori Fisheries Act was stringent, but he believed Te Ohu Kaimoana was on track to complete allocation to all iwi ahead of the previously scheduled 2010.
| IWI | APPROX AMOUNT (NZ$) |
| Ngati Awa | 7,481,000 |
| Ngaitakoto | 841,300 |
| Te Atiawa ki Whakarongotai | 675,000 |
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Protecting Māori fisheries assets for future generations