Ngai Tahu back on attack over top fisheries job

Ngai Tahu is frustrated by delays in getting its allocation of fisheries assets. Picture / Brett Phibbs

South Island iwi Ngai Tahu has re-ignited calls for Labour MP Shane Jones to quit as chairman of a trust that allocates hundreds of millions of dollars in Maori fisheries assets.

Ngai Tahu chief executive Tahu Potiki has called for the list MP to stand down as chairman of Te Ohu Kai Moana (TOKM), a trust set up to distribute more than $700 million in assets from the 1992 Treaty of Waitangi fisheries settlement.

Mr Potiki said the trust had lost momentum as an advocate for Maori interests in fishing and fisheries-related activities, since Mr Jones entered Parliament.

"It is untenable and inappropriate that Shane remain on the commission, let alone the chair."

Mr Potiki said criticism by Mr Jones of a report by United Nations Special Rapporteur Rodolfo Stavenhagen this month demonstrated this.

Mr Stavenhagen called for the repeal of the Foreshore and Seabed legislation and for the Treaty of Waitangi, the MMP electoral system and the Bill of Rights to be entrenched.

"Initially the commission was highly supportive of opposition to the foreshore and seabed, to the point of funding some of the action. Yet when the UN report was released Shane appears to have been entirely bound by his commitment to the Labour party."

Mr Jones, a rising star in the Labour caucus, has continued to defy calls to relinquish the role, worth $70,000 a year.

He said it was important that "consistency" was maintained on the board, as four of the six members could be replaced at elections in October. "It is a balance between achieving continuity and bringing in fresh blood."

Mr Jones said his stance was supported by most iwi leaders present at the last month's annual meeting.

"I acknowledge it is an item of on-going interest, as I outlined to all iwi present at our annual general meeting, I will stay for as long as I need to."

The clash between Mr Jones and Ngai Tahu follows ongoing tension between the tribe and the trust over the transfer of around $80 million in fisheries assets.

Mr Potiki acknowledged that criticism of Mr Jones was driven in part at frustration with the trust and its refusal to soften mandating requirements so the tribe can receive its share.

Ngai Tahu has refused to bow to mandating requirements, which Mr Potiki said did not apply to treaty settlement tribes.

"Parliament's intent was clear. Treaty settlement tribes are established for the purpose of receiving settlement assets so therefore settlement assets should be received."

Mr Potiki said if the standoff continued legal action would follow.

Nineteen of the country's 57 iwi have so far received allocation. Tainui, also a settlements tribe, expects to have reached mandating requirements by July.

Mr Jones urged continued dialogue.

"Talk of litigation is premature and counter-productive."

He said he was confident "current discussions would see Ngai Tahu fishing rather than being hooked in court".

National Party Maori Affairs spokesman Gerry Brownlee backed calls for Mr Jones to quit as trust chairman.

"MPs should not be sitting in Government-appointed positions."

He supported suggestions that Mr Jones was ineffective on Maori fishing issues while in Government.

"If he is having the same impact on the operations of TOKM as he has had in Parliament then they desperately need to move him on."


Te Ohu Kai Moana trust

* Administers, allocates and transfers more than $700 million of the 1992 Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Settlement assets to mandated iwi organisations.
* Responsible for advancing the interests of iwi in the development of fisheries-related activities.

Ngai Tahu

* The country's wealthiest iwi, with more than $500 million in assets.
* The tribe was one of the first to reach a comprehensive Treaty of Waitangi settlement, receiving $170 million in compensation in 1998.