STATEMENT
23 March 2007

Kahawai Decision

Iwi and Maori have an interest in all three sectors of New Zealand’s fisheries regime – customary non-commercial, commercial and recreational.

The High Court has found the Minister of Fisheries made an unlawful decision when allocating the catch for Kahawai in 2004 and 2005 and has directed him to reconsider the 2005 decision forthwith.

“This judgement demonstrates the need for a different approach to balancing the competing needs of the fisheries sector,” Te Ohu Kaimoana Chief Executive Peter Douglas said today.

“Iwi organisations, Te Ohu Kaimoana, Aotearoa Fisheries Limited and other Maori fisheries representatives actively want to engage with the Minister and other fisheries groups to develop a sound process for managing competing needs that would provide long-term solutions.”

“We support the Minister initiating and facilitating a joint iwi / Government / fisheries sector approach to shared fisheries challenges. Information on how much all sectors catch is the key and this data should be used to build on our rights-based framework so that all sectors have certainty along with responsibility for sustainable fisheries.

“The public of New Zealand and future generations deserve nothing less,” Mr Douglas said.

ENDS

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