Phil Heatley National Fisheries Spokesman

23 June 2004

Aquaculture: Four bites of the cherry for Maori

Labour's proposed marine farming legislation will ensure Maori get four bites of the cherry, says National's Fisheries spokesman, Phil Heatley. "Not only will Maori be allocated 20%, they will also be able to tender for the general allocation, and some iwi groups will be able to claim up to an extra 10% due to preferential rights.

"For a fourth bite, Maori will then have to be consulted by regional councils during the resource consent process over the marine farms of competing farmers. "Mr Heatley says Maori are already doing well in marine farming - in some parts of the country they own 40% of marine farms. "Maori don't need a patronising handout. "The 1992 fisheries settlement gave Maori 20% of wild fish in the quota management system. Mr Heatley says National stands by that settlement because fishing for wild fish was a traditional Maori activity.

"But marine farming wasn't and this allocation of marine farm space goes too far"

ENDS

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