31 August 2006

Lord Cooke Of Thorndon

Te Ohu Kaimoana, the Maori Fisheries Trust, today paid tribute to Lord Cooke of Thorndon who died yesterday in Wellington.

“Lord Cooke changed the complexion of New Zealand society. What we take for granted today would not have been contemplated 20 years ago without his contribution. New Zealand society has changed for the better and it has changed irrevocably,” the Chief Executive of Te Ohu Kaimoana, Peter Douglas, said today.

Lord Cooke was the President of the Court of Appeal when the Sealord Deal was completed.

While at times Lord Cooke did not always rule in favour of the former Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission, his decisions played an important role in final make-up of the allocation model.

Aside from fisheries, Lord Cooke’s influence was felt in the way the Crown must deal with its Treaty partner and his Treaty-related decisions have flowed through to forestry, coal, broadcasting and many others.

“Lord Cooke was one of New Zealand’s great jurists. Our thoughts go out to his family,” Mr Douglas said.

ENDS

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