The Privy Council in London has upheld the traditional tribal structure of Maori and rejected an appeal by urban Maori groups over the allocation of fishing assets.
The decision comes after a three-day hearing in May in which urban-based Maori groups asked the Privy Council to overrule High Court and Court of Appeal rulings defining iwi as a traditional tribe.
The issue involves about $850 million of fisheries assets held by the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission destined for allocation to iwi.
Urban Maori wanted to prevent the Commission making traditional tribes the only beneficiaries of the
assets but the Privy Council has upheld the decisions made by the lower courts.
Treaty Tribes Coalition chairman Harry Mikaere said the judgement was the strongest possible endorsement for the case that Maori fishing assets should be allocated to iwi immediately.
"We see this judgement as the last hurdle to overcome towards the allocation of our fishing assets. The Government must now act to bring allocation about," he said.
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