September 13, 2016
Kermadecs row overshadows Oceans conference
A far north tribal leader has pulled out of this week's 2016 Our Ocean conference in Washington DC because the Government hasn’t come up with a suitable offer over Maori fishing rights around the Kermadecs.
Instead Te Aupouri chair Rick Witana is in Wellington backing Te Ohu Kaimoana, which is negotiating the issue with Treaty Minister Christopher Finlayson and Environment Minister Nick Smith.
At the same conference last year Prime Minister John Key announced a giant ocean sanctuary would be created around the islands north of New Zealand.
That drew howls of outrage from iwi who said it closed off a potentially valuable fishery that was part of the 1992 Maori fisheries settlement.
Mr Witana says Te Aupouri supports the sanctuary, but not to the detriment of Maori fishing rights.
Ngati Kuri chair Harry Burkhart is on his way to Washington as part of the New Zealand delegation led by Conservation Minister Maggie Barry.
At his weekly press conference yesterday, Prime Minister John Key said the government is trying to avoid court action, but it has the votes to pass the legislation with the support of the Greens.
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