MP checks Maori seafood abuse fears

By RENEE KIRIONA

Maori MP Dover Samuels is outraged that some Maori leaders might be abusing their authority to issue permits to take kaimoana (seafood).

As a result, the Tai Tokerau MP will meet Fisheries Minister Pete Hodgson and Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia today to determine if the abuse of the Customary Fisheries Regulations is an issue.

Under the regulations some Maori leaders (or kaitiaki) have the power to issue permits, but only for customary functions such as tangihanga (funerals) and marae events.

Mr Samuels said he had been engulfed with concerns from whanau and hapu, not only in his electorate but others as well, that there had been issues of non-compliance.

"These are Maori coastal whanau and hapu who are trying to protect the resource, but who also see it being taken outside of their area," he said.

"It is a wake-up call for us all, especially with the whole issue of adhering to customary fishing rights being at the forefront of people's minds and the foreshore and seabed issue being so topical."

It would be extremely disappointing if some Maori had abused the right, given that they had fought long and hard for it from the Government, Mr Samuels said.

"The protection and sustainable management of kaimoana is at the very heart of tikanga [Maori values] and Maori custom, but if we keep abusing and depleting our fisheries there will be nothing left for Maori to have customary rights over."

Mr Samuels said he did not believe any kaimoana taken from non-complying permits was being sold on the black market, but it was too early to give a definite answer.

The Ministry of Fisheries' compliance department was to brief the meeting on whether or not there had been any reported abuses of the regulations.