Napier hui seeks to unify fishing interests

Balancing Maori commercial, customary, conservation and recreational fishing interests will dominate debate at a three-day hui that opened in Napier yesterday.

The hui, at Matahiwi marae, is tasked with developing a more unified and national stance on Maori fisheries interests. It is understood leaders and representatives from most of the country's 78 iwi will also push for the creation of a political lobby group to fight for Maori rights at a national level.

Ngati Kahunungu chairman Ngahiwi Tomoana said the hui was a healthy forum to bring the tribes together, after the at times acrimonious stoushes that forced a 13-year fight to hammer out an allocation model for the 1992 Waitangi fisheries settlement.

The Aquaculture Reform Act passed in December 2004 gave Maori 20 per cent of marine farming allocated since 1992 and 20 per cent of any new space.

Mr Tomoana said there were issues over the amount of fish being taken by recreational fishers, diminishing inshore fish stocks, the threat of marine reserves, and the impact of aqua-culture allocation.

He said the creation of a single autonomous Maori fishing brand was another issue to be considered.

US Ambassador William McCormick is among key speakers. The American diplomat will speak on US fishing and environmental policies.

The hui followed Saturday's announcement of an after-tax profit of $38.5-million by Te Ohu Kaimoana, the Maori Fisheries Trust. The surplus is for the 10 months until September.