Treaty Fisheries commissioners salaries reach $11m

Waitangi Treaty Fisheries commissioners have been paid $11 million in fees since 1990, with former chairman Sir Tipene O'Regan receiving more than $2 million, figures released yesterday show.

From 1990 until last September there have been 24 commissioners, who earned on average $460,000 from the commission, or its subsidiary companies.

The figures were requested by the Maori Affairs select committee as part of its inquiry into the commission - Te Ohu Kai Moana.

Sir Tipene, a commissioner for 10 years, was paid a total of $2.1 million. Whaimutu Dewes, a commissioner for the same period as Sir Tipene, received $1.9 million from the commission, and four of its subsidiaries.