Fisheries Trust bows to iwi's demand

Threats of legal action have forced a Maori trust tasked with distributing hundreds of millions of dollars in Maori fisheries assets to bow to the demands of the country's richest iwi.

In a decision reached on Thursday, Te Ohu Kai Moana, a trust set up to distribute more than $700 million in assets from the 1992 Treaty of Waitangi fisheries settlement, agreed to soften rules to allow South Island iwi Ngai Tahu to receive its $80 million share.

The back-down followed months of at-times heated exchanges, with Ngai Tahu adamant the legislation excluded the tribe from mandating requirements to receive its allocation.

The trust disagreed, leading to threats of legal action earlier this week by Ngai Tahu chief executive Tahu Potiki, who called for the sacking of trust chairman and Labour list MP Shane Jones.

Mr Potiki said Mr Jones had lost his nerve as an advocate for Maori fishing interests since joining the Labour caucus.

The criticism appears to have stung the trust, which agreed on Thursday to soften the rules.

Ngai Tahu chairman Mark Solomon said the trust's earlier position was nonsense, with the decision vindicating the tribe's stance.

"Our structure, which was an act of parliament, which was accepted by the Government to give us a $170 million land settlement and [they]... are telling us that structure is not acceptable for an $80 million settlement? I am sorry, we refuse."

Mr Solomon said he was confident the allocation would be finalised in a "few months".

Trust chief executive Peter Douglas said: "We have done some hard work on it, both sides, we have exchanged information and I think we will be able to do it."

But the decision outraged a senior member of Ngai Tahu, kaumatua Rakiihia Tau.

Mr Tau is a signatory on the tribe's 1998 Treaty of Waitangi Settlement, and chairman of Ngai Tuahuriri marae.

His son, Te Maire Tau, represents the marae on the tribe's board, Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu.

He said Ngai Tahu must be compelled to comply with the legislation, which he believed would force the tribe's leaders to consult their people.

"The legislation makes it quite clear democracy must be recognised. There has been no consultation with the owners of this asset, that is all Ngai Tahu members over the age of 18."

Rakiihia Tau threatened legal action that would force the trust to comply with the legislation.

Mr Solomon said there had been no consultation as the details of the allocation were not yet finalised.

"Once a deal is finalised, of course we will take it to the people."

Mr Douglas said the agreement was legal and there were no grounds for court action.