May 06, 2015
Fish settlement fragmentation warning
The Maori Affairs select committee has been told the influence of Maori in fisheries could wane if a recommendation to wind up Te Ohu Kaimoana is adopted.
The recommendation to hand the Maori fisheries settlement trust’s assets to iwi was contained in a review by Wellington barrister Tim Castle, who told the committee that was the intention of the 2004 Maori Fisheries Act.
Trust chair Matiu Rei and chief executive Peter Douglas told the committee it was still unclear which way iwi would vote at the special general meeting on June 4.
But Mr Douglas said some iwi were questioning how Maori could maintain a strong voice across their recreational, commercial and customary fishery interests.
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