Ngāpuhi is calling for greater respect, genuine collaboration and recognition of Treaty-based fisheries rights as debate intensifies over the future of Aotearoa’s fishing industry, environmental protection and the management of the nation’s marine resources.
With fisheries policy emerging as a significant issue ahead of the November 7 general election, Ngāpuhi is emphasising the importance of ensuring iwi are actively involved in decisions affecting their fisheries interests, customary practices and the long-term health of the moana.
The call comes amid renewed political debate over commercial fishing, bottom trawling, marine protection and proposed changes to fisheries legislation.
Central to the discussion is the Māori Fisheries Settlement, which established significant commercial fishing rights and assets for iwi following negotiations between Māori and the Crown.
Ngāpuhi says the settlement was entered into in good faith and was intended to provide meaningful and enduring fisheries rights.
Those rights remain an important foundation for Māori economic development, customary fishing and the responsibilities iwi carry as kaitiaki of their marine environments.
Treaty Fisheries Settlement Must Be Respected
The Māori Fisheries Settlement represented a significant milestone in recognising Māori interests in commercial fisheries, providing iwi with quota and other assets intended to support long-term economic development.
For Ngāpuhi, the settlement is not simply a commercial arrangement but part of a broader relationship between Māori, the Crown and the marine resources that have sustained generations of whānau and hapū.
The iwi’s call for collaboration highlights the importance of ensuring future fisheries policies recognise existing Treaty settlement arrangements while addressing environmental sustainability.
It also raises questions about how proposed regulatory changes could affect iwi fishing assets, commercial operations and the ability of Māori to exercise their fisheries rights.
Bottom Trawling and Marine Protection in the Spotlight
The debate comes as political parties outline competing approaches to fisheries management, including proposals to restrict bottom trawling, expand marine protection and strengthen the sustainability of fish stocks.
National has announced plans to establish a new marine reserve in the Hauraki Gulf and expand the Goat Island Marine Reserve, while supporting commercial and recreational fishing.
Other political proposals have focused on stronger restrictions on environmentally damaging fishing practices.
The challenge is finding an approach that protects marine biodiversity, supports sustainable fishing and recognises the legal rights and interests of iwi under Treaty settlements.
It also includes the protection of customary fishing practices, access to traditional kai sources and the intergenerational responsibility to maintain the mauri of the moana.
Ngāpuhi Wants Uri Involved in the Conversation
Te Rūnanga-Ā-Iwi-O-Ngāpuhi is encouraging its people to participate in discussions about the future of fisheries, including the rights and assets held by the iwi and the implications of proposed policy changes.
An online Ngāpuhi Fisheries Hui has been scheduled for Monday, October 19, from 6pm to 7pm.
The hui will explore the origins of the Fisheries Settlement, what Ngāpuhi currently holds, and the implications of debates over bottom trawling, the Fisheries Amendment Bill and election policies.
The initiative is intended to help uri understand their fisheries interests and participate in decisions affecting their future.
A Bigger Question About Rangatiratanga
For Ngāpuhi and other iwi, the wider debate raises fundamental questions about the Crown’s relationship with Māori and how Treaty-based fisheries rights are recognised in environmental and economic decision-making.
Māori fisheries assets represent opportunities for commercial investment, employment, economic development and the creation of intergenerational wealth.
At the same time, iwi and hapū carry longstanding responsibilities to protect marine ecosystems, maintain customary practices and safeguard the resources future generations will depend upon.
Ngāpuhi’s position reinforces the need for fisheries reform to be developed through respectful engagement rather than decisions made without meaningful iwi participation.
With the election approaching, political parties are facing increasing scrutiny over how their fisheries policies will balance commercial interests, environmental protection and Treaty obligations.
For Ngāpuhi, the message is that protecting the moana and respecting Māori fisheries rights should not be competing priorities. Both must be central to decisions about the future of Aotearoa’s fisheries.
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