February 01, 2021
Ngati Porou stake in takutai moana recognised
Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Andrew Little says Ngāti Porou iwi and hapū can now play a greater role in the management of fisheries around their coastline.
The government yesterday gazetted 14 areas along the East Cape and East Coast where specific Ngāti Porou whānau and hapū have the customary marine title.
The move has been more than a decade in the making and grew out of an agreement Ngāti Porou reached Crown under the now-repealed Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004 – the only iwi to secure such a deal.
Mr Little says it does not give exclusive access.
"If they are concerned species are under threat because they are being over-fished or over-collected, they will have the right to go to (the Ministry for Primary industries) or even the local authority and say 'we are concerned about this and we want action taken.' It doesn't stop any other person coming along and fishing in areas or having access to beaches and things like that but what it does mean is Ngāti Porou's interests and their customary rights are properly protected," Mr Little says.
Other iwi are pursuing their customary rights claims under the 2011 Marine and Coastal Areas (Takutai Moana) Act through either the High Court or direct negotiations, and those cases are likely to take several years to resolve.
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