Iwi to get say on proposed shake-up of Maori fisheries

Runanga-a-Iwi o Ngapuhi chairman Sonny Tau

Ngapuhi could end up the biggest winners - or the biggest losers - in a proposed major shake-up of the Maori fisheries organisation, Te Ohu Kai Moana (TOKM), says Te Runanga-a-Iwi o Ngapuhi chairman Sonny Tau.

Mr Tau passed that judgment after Wellington barrister Tim Castles released the review he had undertaken on behalf of TOKM, a legislative requirement of the Maori Fisheries Act 2004.

His proposals, which are now being talked through with iwi around the country, include abolishing TOKM, reviewing how Maori quota is managed and strengthening iwi hands in the management of Aotearoa Fisheries Ltd (AFL).

Representatives of the iwi group that is working through the recommendations met mandated organisations in the North in Kaikohe last week, Mr Tau saying abandoning TOKM completely would be short-sighted when Maori were "in the business of fishing forever.

"If we as Ngapuhi agree to devolving TOKM, we could potentially be $10 million better off, but I think that's short-sighted.

"We will still need a body to represent and advocate for Maori fisheries issues in policy and legislative changes. No single organisation is better able to do that for Maori than TOKM."

Abandoning TOKM would also disadvantage smaller iwi, which would have "no show" of fulfilling advocacy roles with wider industry operators who constantly tried to undermine Maori

fisheries settlement entitlements.

Mr Tau said he supported the idea of reducing the size of a TOKM-like entity, and the suggestion that it should provide administrative support to its affiliates, Te Putea Whakatipu and Te Wai Maori Trust.

"There's also a proposal to remove the layers of bureaucracy around AFL and make them more accountable to their shareholders, which is us.

"We (Ngapuhi) have the largest stake in AFL, with a 20 per cent shareholding."

A special general meeting of TOKM has been called for June 4 to consider the iwi working group's recommendations following consultative hui with iwi. Those recommendations will then be voted on by all iwi across the country.