Keep an eye out for tohorā 24 Hōngongoi 2020             Over the next few months tohorā, southern rights whales, are moving through our waters and can be seen from anywhere along the coastline of Aotearoa. Scientists from University of Auckland and Live Ocean are calling on public sightings to help improve knowledge about distribution and movements. Tohorā, once an endangered species, are now believed to number 30,000. Report any [...]

Whakatōhea realise 20 year effort for mussel farm 23 Hōngongoi 2020               Chariman of Whakatōhea Trust Board, Robert Edwards, spoke with RNZ about the story behind their 20 year effort to establish a mussel farm. This open ocean mussel farm is now in operation 12 km off the coast of Ōpōtiki, thanks to the vision, perseverance and investment of Iwi leaders and the local community. In time, this [...]

Our feedback on COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-Track Consenting) Act 2020 8 Hōngongoi 2020               The government has recently enacted the COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-Track Consenting) Act 2020. The Act significantly reforms RMA processes for projects and activities that are considered likely to result in employment growth and that will assist New Zealand’s economic recovery from COVID-19. At the same time, the Act seeks to promote the sustainable management of natural [...]

Kaimoana exports expected to dive 30 Piripi 2020               Iwi Collective Partnership general manager Maru Samuels says that Māori business, particularly kaimoana, could expect to see sales suffer. This is largely due to the changes in exports to China. A report released from Stats NZ demonstrated the value of Māori business, $741 million in 2019 up $46million from the year prior. Kaimoana made up almost half of all [...]

Rāhui at Marsden Point, Whangārei 23 Piripi 2020                 In late May, the Minister of Fisheries approved Patuharakeke Te Iwi Trust's request to close Mair Bank and Marsden Bank in Whangarei to shellfish gathering. This closure formalises the rāhui which was put in place in December 2018.  The area is closed until 28 June 2022 to allow for restoration. Patuharakeke Te Iwi Trust are monitoring the environment, [...]

Quarter Two report now available 24 Piripi 2020                 It seems like a long time ago - pre COVID lockdown - but we managed to squeeze a lot into the second quarter. Over January and February 2020, the policy team provided responses on nine different policy matters to four different government departments and two specialist groups (the Environment Select Committee and the Resource Management review panel). The advice we provided [...]

Collaborative effort helps whānau impacted by COVID-19 26 May 2020               Iwi organisations have joined forces with Māori fishing companies Sealord and Moana New Zealand to help whānau in need in response to COVID-19. The fishing companies are providing seafood and ready-to-eat meals to iwi organisations at less than cost price. Sealord, 50% owned by iwi, has contributed more than 8 tonne of battered and crumbed seafood portions [...]

New website focuses on Māori Commercial Aquaculture Settlement 15 Haratua 2020               Takutai Trust, the Māori Commercial Aquaculture Settlement Trust, has launched a new website. The Trust acts as the eyes, ears and mouthpiece for the collective interests of Iwi Aquaculture Organisations in relation to the aquaculture settlement. This includes facilitating aquaculture settlements between Iwi and the Crown to developing Māori interests in aquaculture. The new website covers [...]

Will Treaty relations post-Covid be more of the same? Nā Dion Tuuta 15 Haratua 2020             Koi Tū – the Centre for Informed Futures, led by Sir Peter Gluckman, recently released a paper titled Social Cohesion Enhancing Kotahitanga in a Post-Covid World. The report suggests that as we transition towards post-Covid life, it’s critical that New Zealand considers what factors influence the nature and degree of social cohesion – [...]

Moana New Zealand helping Palmerston North residents in need 5 May 2020 Story courtesy of Seafood NZ               Iwi-owned fishing company Moana New Zealand is helping the Palmerston North community by creating thousands of ready-to-eat meals for those in need. Moana, in collaboration with Palmerston North Civil Defence emergency operations centre and the Salvation Army, have been working to deliver more than 8000 meals to the city's vulnerable. Moana [...]