Seven on Wairarapa fisheries charges

FISHING LIMITS: Seven men are facing charges relating to alleged illegal fishing of paua.

Seven men have appeared in court facing fisheries charges.

One man may well be forced to hand his Nissan Bluebird car over to the Crown.

Most appeared before Judge Barbara Morris in Masterton District Court for exceeding the daily paua limit of 10 per person or possession of under-sized paua smaller than 125mm.

Mata Ngaro Nooroa and Michael Douglas Karaitiana, both 54 and of Masterton, appeared accused of taking 99 paua on March 28, with 67 of them under-sized.

Nooroa, represented by duty lawyer Frank Minehan, pleaded guilty to the two fisheries charges and was sentenced to 60 hours' community work.

He also had to forfeit his wetsuit to the Crown.

Mr Minehan told the court his client had tried unsuccessfully to get a permit earlier in the day.

Judge Morris told Nooroa the reason there was a daily limit was to protect the food source and to ensure sustainability.

"It's to protect it for tangata whenua, for everyone," she said.

Karaitiana is yet to plead to the charge but has been told his vehicle may be forfeited to the Crown. He is due back in court on September 4 to plead to the charges.

Norman Mane Namana, 31, of Carterton is facing charges alleging that on February 22 in Wairarapa he had possession of more than the daily limit of paua as well as possession of paua under the legal size of 125mm. Ministry of Primary Industries prosecutor Stephanie Bishop told the court Namana's Nissan Bluebird vehicle was at risk of forfeiture.

Anyone caught illegally taking shellfish or fish are at risk of losing the vehicle they were caught in along with any boat or equipment used to collect it in. Namana was remanded at large without plea to reappear on September 4.

Edward Reece Rauoniwa King, 31, also of Carterton is facing charges of possession of more than the daily limit of paua and possession of under-sized paua. The charges relate to February 22.

Miss Bishop said he was also at risk of losing his vehicle.

Duty lawyer Frank Minehan said King needed to apply for legal aid as there was an issue regarding the amount of shellfish collected. King was also remanded until September 4 for plea.

Siale Ene, 35, is accused of collecting more paua than permitted from Palliser Bay on January 29. He was remanded at large until September 4 when he is due to plead to the charge.

Dalkeith Te Heke Matiaha, 50, is facing a charge of possession of fish contrary to his permit. He failed to appear in court but Judge Morris excused him from appearing and the case was adjourned until September 4 also.