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An urban Maori leader says a High Court decision is a warning to iwi leaders they need to change their ways.
Justice Simon France found Te Ohu Kaimoana ignored past judgments in the way it appointed directors to Te Putea Whakatupu, which promotes education, training and research.
The trust was created to give urban Maori a share of the Maori fisheries settlement, but it hasn’t worked out that way because their sole representative was outvoted by iwi-oriented directors.
Former director John Tamihere from Te Whanau o Waipareira says the judgement means urban Maori organisations must be consulted on the trust’s future structure, and all directors must show connections or experience with urban Maori.
He says the new iwi leaders have mismanaged not just the trust but the whole settlement when it comes to making Maori a part of the fishing industry.
"They hire Korean and Russian ships and sailors to fish our deep sea quota. They hire non Maori to fish our in shore quota. They hire non Maori to manage our foreign exchange, to manage our marketing, to manage our sales. They do not hire our own people, they do not expose them to some of the greatest understandings of how to run significant sized businesses", says Mr Tamihere.
John Tamihere says urban Maori organisations are trying to take the mana away from iwi, but iwi need to acknowledge they can’t service all their people living away from the hau kainga.
High Court of New Zealand Decision: National Urban Maori Authority vs Te Ohu Kaimoana
Copyright © 2016, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
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