April 22, 2016
Case made for fishing benefits
Urban Maori advocates have wrapped up their case for a greater say in a trust that was supposed to deliver benefits from the Maori fisheries settlement to Maori living in the cities.
The National Urban Maori Authority and Waipareira Trust told the High Court, access by urban Maori to the $20 million fund controlled by He Putea Whakatupu Trust had been blocked, with all the grants going to people based on iwi affiliations.
They want the court to say urban Maori should be the primary beneficiaries of the trust.
Te Ohu Kaimoana, the Maori fisheries settlement trust, argued benefits must be made available as widely as possible to all Maori living in urban areas, including iwi members.
The case is likely to affect the restructuring of the trust as part of wider changes to Te Ohu Kaimoana, which the urban authorities say they were not consulted about.
Justice Simon France indicated he should have his decision out by the end of May.
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