Gisborne second to get fisheries share
http://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/article.asp?aid=2331&iid=220&sud=27
26 September 2006
GISBORNE tangata whenua, Te Aitanga a Mahaki, will next week become just
the second iwi to receive their fisheries allocation worth $2.84 million.
They follow northern iwi Ngapuhi, who on Thursday received more than $60
million in fisheries assets. The amount of assets each iwi receives depends
on its number of members, as well as its total coastline boundary.
Iwi organisations must have registered members as well as appropriate
management structures and constitutions.
Te Aitanga a Mahaki Trust chairman Pene Brown said support from its
members was overwhelming, with 99 percent approving the trusts mandate.
Under provisions in the Maori Fisheries Act 2004, a mandated organisation
must receive at least 75 percent support from its registered members before
any transfers of assets can be made by the governing body, Te Ohu Kaimoana (TOKM).
"To get 99 percent was overwhelming we received ballot papers from
members all around New Zealand and overseas," said Mr Brown.
"It was a great result for the teams hard work and it means that we are
one of the first iwi in New Zealand to receive our fisheries assets," he
said.
Te Aitanga a Mahaki fisheries adviser Ian Ruru said the trust had to meet
stringent requirements under the Act.
"It meant proving that our election process was fair and inclusive, our
structures were robust and transparent, and that the constitutions were
sound," he said.
"We made several improvements to our deed of trust to meet the
requirements of the Act and managed to keep the essence of Mahaki tikanga,"
said Mr Ruru.
Te Aitanga a Mahaki will receive a combination of cash, fishing quota and
shares in New Zealand’s largest fishing company, Aotearoa Fisheries Limited
(AFL).
The Maori Fisheries Act required that the trust set up an asset holding
company to receive their fishing quota and shares in AFL.
TOKM then scrutinised every facet of the trust’s activities before giving
them approval to proceed.
"It was an arduous task but our iwi members can be confident that their
quota is safe and we can start developing their economic base," said trustee
Bill Ruru. |
