Mussel farm dispute ends

By TONY GEE

An illegal mussel farm in Whangaruru Harbour north of Whangarei is to be removed by the Maori trust which set it up.

Agreement to start removing buoys, anchors, ropes and other equipment before a Northland Regional Council deadline of next Tuesday was reached after talks between the council and representatives of Te Au O Morunga Marine Farm Trust.

In return, the council will include the hapu-based trust in its aquaculture process for setting up new marine farms. It will also support the trust in a joint approach to the Government to help members of the hapu achieve marine objectives in Northland.

In May the trust put down spat lines and other mussel farm equipment near the harbour entrance off Oakura Bay without resource consents from the council or a mussel farming permit.

The trust said there was frustration among Maori with the Government-imposed moratorium on new marine farming ventures, which allows regional councils, rather than the Crown under Treaty of Waitangi partnership obligations, to identify coastal areas for fish farms.

Last month, Whangaruru residents objected to the site of the trust's mussel farm, saying it was inappropriately placed.