A 16.6 hectare block of aquaculture space off the northern tip of Rakiura Stewart Island has been transferred to Ngāi Tahu under a regional aquaculture agreement signed yesterday by Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, Te Ohu Kaimona and the crown.
It follows similar agreements in Auckland, Waikato-East, Tasman, Marlborough, and Canterbury as part of the Māori Aquaculture Settlement.
The block is adjacent to an area where Ngāi Tahu is awaiting resource consent for a salmon farm.
Upoko o Awarua Tā Tipene O’Regan says Ngai Tahu wants to be at the forefront of a sustainable and developing industry.
He says aquaculture complements New Zealand’s wild fisheries.
