November 17, 2015
Iwi grip on fish settlement challenged
The National Urban Maori Authority has fired the first shots in its bid to ensure a continuing recognition for non-tribal Maori in the Maori commercial fisheries settlement.
Its lawyers were in court this week to get a timetable for a judicial review of the way changes are being made to He Putea Whakatupu, a trust set up with settlement money to promote Maori development, including by urban Maori.
A statutory review of fisheries settlement structures by Wellington lawyer Tim Castle recommended the trust remain, but an Iwi Working Group set up by Te Ohu Kaimoana rejected his other recommendations to give urban and national Maori organisations more say in the trust.
National Urban Maori Authorities sought court orders preventing Waipareira chief executive John Tamihere being replaced as a trustee and proposed changes to Te Putea Whakatupu.
Because Te Ohu Kaimoana thought it was likely the court would grant the orders to preserve the position of the applicants, it agreed to make no changes as long as a substantive hearing is held in the next four months.
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