Pita Paraone MP

Spokesperson for Māori Affairs
4 FEBRUARY 2016

Māori Fishing Rights Undermined, Māori Party Silent

The government’s newly proposed recreational fishing parks will undermine Māori fishing rights and the Māori Party remains silent on the issue, says New Zealand First.

“The establishment of recreational fishing parks in the Hauraki Gulf and the Marlborough Sounds and the ending of commercial fishing in these areas cuts across the fishing rights currently guaranteed to iwi under the 2004 Treaty Fisheries Settlement,” says Māori Affairs Spokesperson Pita Paraone.

“Representatives of both iwi and Māori fisheries groups have vocally opposed the establishment of these parks, yet the Māori Party has remained silent on the proposal.

“The Māori Party claims to be at the table of government for Māori. But when issues directly relating to Māori arise, they quietly stand aside and let government steamroll the rights of Māori with ill-advised policy,” says Mr Paraone.

ENDS

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