June 04, 2015
Radical changes in fisheries asset management
Iwi have voted to make radical changes to the way Maori fisheries settlement assets are managed.
Waatea Editor Adam Gifford has been at the Te Ohu Kaimoana special general meeting in Wellington.
"As part of the compromise that allowed the allocation of Maori Fisheries Settlement to go ahead 20 per cent of the income of Aotearoa Fihseries which includes stakes in Sealord and other companies went to fund Te Ohu Kai Moana. Another compromise was a ten year review of fisheries settlement structures. Iwi have used that review to grab the assets of Te Ohu Kai Moana and reduce it's power. They also voted to seize control of Te Putea Whakatipu Trust which was a token nod to the stake urban Maori may have had in the fishing right settlement. Promotion to retain seats for urban Maori on the trust was supported by just over half the iwi but not the 75 per cent margin needed to carry. Te Ohu Kai Moana now has the task of restructuring itself to act in a more limited capacity. It is then up to parliament to consider the proposed changes." says Adam Gifford
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