Commission in resolute mood

By IRENE CHAPPLE

The Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission hopes to cool dissent over the allocation of Maori fishing assets next week and expects a major new company, Aotearoa Fisheries, to be established as planned.

The commission will meet its major dissenter, South Island-based Iwi Forum, to discuss the issues.

Commission chairman Shane Jones is adamant plans for Aotearoa Fisheries will not be deflected, although they may be refined.

He is also determined to push through the commission's plans for distribution of fishing quota worth more than $200 million.

Aotearoa Fisheries, which would swallow the commission's business interests - including its 50 per cent interest in Sealord - has projected earnings of around $28 million.

It would be controlled through A shares, whose holders would be indirectly voted on by iwi.

Profits would be split among iwi through B shares.

The commission's plans were released for debate in August and submissions closed late last month.

More than 100 submissions were received, including an alternative structure promoted by the Iwi Forum and called Iwi Fisheries.

The forum, a group formed in response to the commission's proposal, says it represents 60 per cent of New Zealand's 78 iwi.

It includes Ngai Tahu, Ngati Porou and Hawkes Bay's Ngati Kahungunu, who together will be eligible for a large majority of the fishing quota distribution under the commission proposal.

But spokesman Harry Mikaere said the forum wanted to split the deepwater fishing quota on a 50-50 coastline/population basis, rather than the 75-25 split advocated by the commission.

Forum members are also unhappy about how Aotearoa Fisheries would be controlled under the commission proposal.

A report, commissioned by the forum and written by Victoria University professor Martin Lally and GT Research and Consulting's Arthur Grimes, comparing Iwi Fisheries to Aotearoa Fisheries, concluded that the management structure proposed by the commission would cost more than $100 million in lost revenue over the short term.

It also rated Iwi Fisheries better in seven out of nine areas, including long-term viability and maximising value to iwi.

Jones said the report had some valid ideas in areas such as governance and transparency, but overall analysis of Iwi Fisheries showed it favoured South Island Maori.

He said the commission's proposal was based on the existing structure which, since 1992, had increased the value of Maori fishing assets by 14 per cent and put its commercial nous "beyond doubt".

There was no intention to relitigate the commission's proposal, he said, as it had substantial majority support and the forum's claim to represent the majority of Maoridom was an exaggeration.

But treatment of tribal investment in freshwater fisheries was being looked at.

Jones said the allocation of voting shares and calculations for quota distribution would not change, as it was fairest to all Maori.

A report is due to go to the Government next month.