Fisheries report marks a remarkable day

11.00am - By MAGGIE TAIT

The Government netted an historic moment today when the Waitangi Fisheries Commission handed over a proposed $700 million fisheries allocation model.

Fisheries Minister Peter Hodgson received the commissioners report on the proposed allocation model which sets out how the fisheries quota is to be allocated, creates several trusts and builds the country's largest holder of fisheries assets, Aotearoa Fisheries Limited.

Waitangi Fisheries Commission Chairman Shane Jones said it was a relief to give the proposal to the minister, "we are offloading a burden from our shoulders to you."

He said it had been a very difficult process and acknowledged the time it took - more than 10 years.

"We must remember the people who with a great deal of courage in 1992 entered into ... what has proven to be a very, very difficult process."

Mr Jones said he had nothing to say about recent court cases over the allocation model and said there was no controversy today.

Mr Hodgson said it was a remarkable day for New Zealand.

The proposal took Waitangi tribunal settlements to another level. The proposed settlement was larger than all treaty settlement in New Zealand history combined, he said.

He also acknowledged all the work that gone into preparing the proposed model which will now be considered by the government.

Waitangi fisheries commissioner Naida Glavish, of Ngati Whatua iwi, said it was an historic moment.

"To all purposes and intents today is historic ... it is history in the making. There will be so many benefits coming from this," she said before the model was given to the Government.

A commissioner for 10 years, she accepted that not all Maori would be happy with the model.

"There is absolutely no ability to get 100 per cent agreement, however with the percentage of agreement we do have, we have an ability now to move forward."

Yesterday a bid by the Maori Council to get an injunction to prevent the allocation model being passed to the Government failed at the High Court in Auckland.

Maori Council lawyer Donna Hall argued the plan was not fair to all Maori and the $20 million allocated to urban groups was not enough.

The Government now how 30 days to review the model.

It must be satisfied that the model provides for an appropriate allocation of settlement assets to iwi, with ultimate benefit to all Maori, Mr Hodgson said in a statement.

The Government would also consider whether it was satisfied with the commission's decision making-process and see if draft legislation included in the report was suitable.

"The Government aims to introduce legislation to Parliament in the next few months, once it has an agreed allocation model," he said.

Mr Hodgson said the model had unprecedented support by Maori.

"It (the commission) has done the job the government asked it to do and we congratulate Maoridom in general and the commission in particular.

"Ensuring that the assets in the 1992 Fisheries Settlement are allocated to Maori is a very high priority for the government."

He said the assets held "huge promise as a source of renewed economic and social strength for Maori".

- NZPA