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Maori Party co leader Te Ururoa Flavell says a bill passed yesterday banning foreign charter vessels may put some iwi fishing companies out of business.
The Maori Party joined all other parties in voting for the bill, but Mr Flavell says it is disappointed alternative approaches suggested by iwi were not adopted.
He says iwi leaders consider the bill was a sledgehammer to crack a nut, as the ministerial inquiry that looked into alleged breaches of human rights on foreign charter ships was unable to say the problem was as widespread as was claimed.
The Maori Party supports the drive to put better safeguards in place for foreign workers on board foreign-chartered vessels, but it believes there needed to be a transition period for iwi fishing settlement quota.
Mr Flavell says some iwi won’t be able to absorb the costs of changes.
The crown was failing to protect the value of the Maori fisheries settlement.
Copyright © 2014, UMA Broadcasting Ltd
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