March 10, 2015
Mahuta: Settlement carve-up a sign of maturity
Labour’s Maori affairs spokesperson is backing a proposal to scrap Te Ohu Kaimoana and divide its remaining assets among iwi.
The controversial proposal is contained in a 10-year review of Maori fisheries settlement structures conducted by Wellington lawyer Tim Castle.
Te Ohu Kaimoana has almost finished allocating more than half a billion dollars in Maori fisheries assets to iwi, but under the current law it retains a minority stake in pan-Maori fishing company Aotearoa Fisheries to fund its operations and advocacy work.
It also picks Aotearoa’s directors.
Nanaia Mahuta says the report is timely.
"I think iwi have matured in the commercial fishing space and in their partnerships and collaborations with each other and with other stakesholders to a degree where they can influence the future space of commercial fishing without Te Ohu Kaimoana. Obviously AFL will still stay and I think that's just a sign of maturity," she says.
The Castle report will be discussed at next week’s Te Ohu Kaimoana annual meeting and at 10 regional hui before the recommendations are voted on at a special general meeting in June.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH NANAIA MAHUTA CLICK ON THE LINK
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