Te Ohu Kaimoana Responds to Hon Sandra Lee

Ms Lee has missed the point and needs to listen more carefully or read better information about what iwi and Te Ohu Kaimoana are actually saying.

For the record, Te Ohu Kaimoana supports protecting biodiversity of the region through Marine Reserves around all of the Kermadec Islands out to 20km and other measures. Te Ohu Kaimoana and its subsidiary company Sealord were two of the four industry groups that proposed and oversaw the implementation of a seabed protection regime in 2008.

We have actually done something tangible to protect the environment, not just talked about it in the media.

Contrary to Ms Lee’s assertion, Te Ohu Kaimoana in fact has an enviable record of conservation, as well as a reputation for implementing protective measures when it is required.

Te Ohu Kaimoana’s stand over the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary proposal is about protecting the remaining Māori fishing rights (including all fisheries development rights) negotiated and agreed with successive governments since 1986, ultimately for the benefit of all Māori. Māori cannot stand by and let the government remove those remaining rights and renege on a Treaty agreement simply because it wants to grandstand on the world stage.

Ms Lee would do well to think about that.

ENDS

© Scoop Media