Judge keeps fishing claimants dangling

By PAUL PANCKHURST


A High Court judge yesterday warned former joint venture fishing partners Maruha Corporation and Amaltal Corporation not to expect instant justice in their latest stoush.

"It won't be soon," said Justice Rodney Hansen, as he reserved his decision.

"It will be weeks ... and weeks can turn into months."

Japan's Maruha and Maruha (NZ) Corporation are claiming more than $15 million - including interest - from Amaltal, a former partner in the joint venture company Amaltal Taiyo, set up in 1985.

Amaltal was this week seeking a summary judgment or, alternatively, a striking out of the Maruha claim.

The legal tussle includes allegations that Amaltal deliberately concealed a Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries mix-up in the 1980s that gave Amaltal a larger hoki quota than the joint venture company.

It is also alleged that, from 1987 to 1991, Amaltal kept $5.6 million of the joint venture company's tax savings.

For Amaltal, Colin Carruthers, QC, said a time-bar applied and Maruha's claims were "simply untenable".