Donna Hall hails Maori fisheries ruling

By KEVIN TAYLOR

Lawyer Donna Hall, who has fought long and hard for urban Maori over the settlement of Maori fisheries asset allocations, is celebrating what she says is a significant High Court judgement in her favour.

The decision would give opponents of a bill before Parliament allocating $700 million in Maori fisheries assets more ammunition, she said.

Part of the settlement is the establishment of a $20 million fund negotiated by urban Maori authorities to go into a trust - Te Putea Whakatupu - to promote education, training and research.

A reserved judgment by Justice Andrew McGechan ruled the trust's provisions did not fulfil the Maori Fisheries Commission's obligations to see that benefits of the settlement were ultimately for the benefit of all Maori.

He also ruled the provisions did not fulfil the obligations of the Crown to accord fair treatment to the settlement beneficiaries.

Ms Hall said the decision would not affect the Maori Fisheries Bill's passage through Parliament but it would mean that the bill would be "very carefully considered by politicians".