"In your submission you are effectively saying, if Maori aren't using it, they're going to lose it."
Ms Golder said protecting the ocean could be done in a way that was respectful to iwi rights, and Pew had consistently respected and engaged with iwi.
Mr Tirikatene said many Maori considered it disgraceful that a "foreign-funded NGO can come into our sovereign country of Aotearoa and dictate and lobby, with vast amounts of wealth" to override Maori rights.
After concerns were raised about Maori fishing rights, Environment Minister Nick Smith cited the strong support for the new protection from Ngati Kuri and Te Aupouri, two northern iwi with connections to the Kermadec Islands.
But Te Aupouri chairman Rick Witana made clear the iwi's support was conditional on the resolution of issues raised by the Maori Fisheries Trust, Te Ohu Kaimoana. The trust has filed proceedings in the High Court in Wellington.
- NZME