By AUDREY YOUNG political reporter
Prime Minister Helen Clark yesterday dismissed the call by the Treaty Tribes Coalition for Parliament to intervene and legislate in the fisheries allocation process.
The Government appointed a new Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission in August.
"I hope it will be able to move reasonably quickly," she said, before leaving for the Apec leaders' summit in Brunei.
"But it would be a gross discourtesy to a new commission were the Government to now move and make its mind up for it on allocation."
The Treaty Tribes group met in the Hawkes Bay at the weekend and repeated its demand that Parliament implement the so-called optimum allocation model decided by the last commission.
The model is the subject of litigation which Treaty Tribes chairman Harry Mikaere said could take another five years.
Wairoa Mayor Derek Fox, who stood as an Independent against Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia in last year's election, used the fisheries hui at Waipatu Marae to revive the notion of a Maori party.
Fisheries Commission chairman Shane Jones said the allocation dispute was being used by some to destabilise Mr Horomia in the eastern Maori electorate of Ikaroa-Rawhiti. He also said the problem was being "worsened" by the involvement of Treaty Tribes advisers - John Upton, QC, who spoke at the hui on legal issues and the treaty, and the public relations consultants, Sue Wood and Associates, who helped to organise the hui.
Mr Jones said it should be left to the iwi to sort out.
"If a Pakeha QC wants to embroil themselves in Maori politics of a parliamentary nature, then that individual needs to get a blood transfusion. He needs to know his place."
Mr Upton said he did not want to become involved in personality arguments.
Sue Wood and Associates consultant Matthew Hooten declined to comment.
PM rejects fishing plea
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