Iwi first to get assets under act

Ngapuhi has become the first iwi to receive its fisheries assets under a law other tribes say is imposing tough obligations that non-Maori organisations would not have to meet.

The Northland iwi yesterday received most of its $67 million worth of fish quota, cash and shares in Aotearoa Fisheries Ltd, as part of $750 million worth of fisheries assets due to be distributed under the Maori Fisheries Act.

More settlements will be announced next week, meaning about $100 million of assets will have been allocated before the fishing season, which starts next month.

But it is understood other iwi, including Ngai Tahu, which will receive the largest allocation, and eight iwi from the top of the South Island, remain frustrated at stringent governance and transparency provisions of the Act.

Ngati Tama trustee John Mitchell said the act contained patronising and intrusive rules that would not be imposed on non-Maori organisations or private fishing companies.

And even Ngapuhi said, despite becoming the first iwi to get ownership of their assets, they believed some compliance provisions were not necessary.

The Maori Fisheries Act was passed last year after more than a decade of wrangling and legal challenges over how fisheries assets would be allocated between tribes.

To receive allocations, iwi organisations must meet requirements to set up a register of members, and ensure trust constitutions and management structures are approved.

A ceremony in Wellington yesterday saw the Maori Fisheries Trust, Te Ohu Kaimoana, transfer about $3 million, 3800 tonnes of fishing quota and $45 million in Aotearoa Fisheries shares to Ngapuhi.

Ngapuhi Runanga chief executive Teresa Tepania-Ashton told the Herald Ngapuhi was able to be the first iwi off the block because it already had management structures in place with its fishing industry.

"Fish is our bread and butter.

"Ngapuhi already had a lot of structures in place - we haven't had to go out and invent the wheel.

"We're not happy with the compliance components of the act. If it was a mainstream organisation we would not have to go through as much compliance.

"But we're serious about this. We're rapt, after all the hard work, it's finally come off."

"Right to the last Ngapuhi baby, I think they should all be celebrating."

Ngapuhi represents the biggest iwi, of 110,000 people, and Ms Tepania-Ashton said getting ownership of the assets - rather than leasing quota - would provide momentum for economic development and diversification in the North.

Te Ohu Kaimoana chief executive Peter Douglas described yesterday's handover as "wonderful".

He said the act was rigorous, but it had to be worked with.

He said he understood the frustrations of iwi who had management structures in place that were working, but needed to be changed or tightened to meet the law.

Mr Douglas said the intention was to have all $750 million of assets allocated to tribes by 2010.

Dr Mitchell congratulated Ngapuhi but criticised restrictions such as how many iwi trustees could be directors of iwi fishing companies, and limits for selling quota.

He said the act's governance constraints as passed by Parliament were "really an insult".

"We have been managing assets on a lease basis, and still managed to make those assets work for us.

"There's a belief that we're not capable of running our business."

He said Ngati Tama, which had already changed its constitution three times, hoped to have its structures finalised in time for next year's season.

List of Assets

Northland iwi Ngapuhi, with 110,000 members, receives: About $3 million.

3800 tonnes of fishing quota.

$45 million in Aotearoa Fisheries shares.