August 03, 2016
Flavell unhappy with Kermadec rush
Maori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell is unhappy with the government’s continuing efforts to push though the Kermadec ocean sanctuary without proper consultation with Maori.
Te Ohu Kaimoana is taking legal action because it says quota and fisheries rights granted to all iwi under the 1992 Maori Fisheries Settlement will be extinguished with no compensation.
Mr Flavell says the Maori Party backs that action, but it’s also aware the two northernmost iwi, Te Aupouri and Ngati Kuri, backed the 620,000 square kilometer reserve.
He says despite being at the table, attempts to get Prime Minister John Key and Environment Minister Nick Smith to change the process have been unsuccessful.
"You know there’s a real focus for whatever reason on having it as a sanctuary, yet our people say we can achieve everything, still maintain the sanctuary but maintain the issues of rights as well and it can be dealt with in an appropriate way but but you do need to engage with iwi and that's the bit that has been missing so we would support every effort to maintain dialogue but when it comes to the crunch people have gotta do what they gotta do," Mr Flavell says.
The Local Government and Environment Select Committee has reported back the bill with only minor changes, including calling it the Kermadec/ Rangitaua sanctuary to acknowledge the traditional name for Raoul Island.
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