Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Te Ohu Kaimoana Mourns Passing of Hon Koro Wetere

Te Ohu Kaimoana Mourns Passing of
Hon Koro Wetere, 1935-2018

25 June 2018

Te Ohu Kaimoana (Māori Fisheries Trust) today paid tribute to Hon Koro Wetere, a former Māori Fisheries Commissioner who helped devise the formula for distribution of more than $700 million of valuable fisheries assets to iwi.

Hon Koro Wetere, who died on Saturday aged 83, served as a Commissioner on the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission from his appointment in 2000 until 2011. During that time, Mr Wetere was among the Commissioners who oversaw the completion of the method of allocation of the Māori Fisheries Settlement to iwi after more than 10 years of legal and political wrangling.

In the 1980s as the Minister of Māori Affairs under the fourth Labour Government, Mr Wetere was responsible for introducing the Treaty of Waitangi Amendment Bill into Parliament, which when passed allowed for Māori to make claims under the Treaty extending back to 1840. Prior to the Act, only claims from 1975 were legally permitted.

Te Ohu Kaimoana Chief Executive Dion Tuuta said Mr Wetere’s work as a Parliamentarian, a Minister and a Fisheries Commissioner ultimately culminated in hundreds of millions of dollars in fisheries assets distributed to iwi. “For some iwi still, those who have yet to complete their Treaty claim with the Crown, the money they receive from the Māori Fisheries Settlement makes up a significant, and sometimes only, part of their tribe’s income. Mr Wetere’s contribution to Māori as well as iwi economic development was all-encompassing.”

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

In April 2016, Mr Wetere was included in a media conference line-up of Māori Knights and Dames who opposed the former National Government’s move to establish the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary, which will wipe out Māori fishing rights obtained through the Fisheries Settlement if it comes into being. Mr Wetere was unable to travel to Wellington for the media conference for health reasons and instead made his contribution via video link from Hamilton.

Te Ohu Kaimoana sends its condolences to Koro’s wife and whānau.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.