Sealord, iwi join forces

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Sealord and 36 iwi, including Ngati Porou, have signed an agreement to create opportunities for growth in sustainable fisheries.

Half of Sealord is owned by all Maori through Moana New Zealand, the other half by Japanese fishing company Nissui.

The collaborative agreement, titled Nga Tapuwae o Maui - Following in the footsteps of Maui, was signed this week.

It will see Sealord, a major force in New Zealand deep sea fisheries, work alongside iwi to create growth and value for the business and its shareholders — a fundamental focus of the Maori fisheries settlement.

It gives Sealord access to annual catch entitlement (ACE) of 36 iwi groups in a deal set to increase efficiencies and see greater than 80 percent of profits returned to iwi. The long-term arrangement will provide stability for Sealord operations, having invested heavily in new fishing technologies and modernisation of its fleet.

The agreement will mean about 60 percent of the iwi quota in deepwater fisheries — including hoki, orange roughy, jack mackerel and silver warehou — will be caught on Sealord vessels.

It will also provide iwi members opportunities for training and employment, and advance iwi knowledge of, and involvement in, aspects of the fisheries value chain with Sealord.

Ngati Porou Seafoods Group chief executive Mark Ngata described the signing of the agreement as “a watershed moment” in the history of Maori fisheries.

“This unique partnership very much aligns with the intent of the Maori fisheries settlement, which envisaged Maori working collectively together, large and small, for the benefit of all,” said Mr Ngata.

“This is what our tipuna fought so hard for,” he said. “The journey towards reaching this signing is the culmination of like-minded people within Maori fisheries, including Sealord, working towards a common goal, which I am very proud to be part of.”

Iwi Collective Partnership general manager Maru Samuels said the arrangement provided significant opportunities for Maori.

“This collaboration has only been possible due to the shared values and aspirations of all parties, as well confidence in Sealord as a leader in New Zealand’s deep sea fisheries.”

Sealord board chairman Whaimutu Dewes (also of Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou and the chairman of Moana NZ) said while Sealord signed a similar agreement with some separate iwi collectives in 2014, this deal was different.

“This is not just about increasing returns. It is a business decision that is founded on tikanga Maori where all parties are taking learnings from earlier arrangements to better manage our fisheries assets.

“Together, we want to lift our sights higher to ensure fisheries continue to be managed sustainably, using best practice, with improved performance.

“Taku toa he toa takitini; ehara i te toa takitahi (our achievements are brought by the effort of many).”