Maori collaborate to form Iwi owned lobster business

Maori collaborate to form the largest Iwi owned lobster business

Port Nicholson Fisheries and Aotearoa Fisheries Ltd are pleased to announce a partnership which will see Aotearoa Fisheries join with Port Nicholson Fisheries to form the largest Maori-owned lobster processing business in New Zealand.

From 1 April 2016 Aotearoa Fisheries’ lobster division will join together with Port Nicholson Fisheries to process and export their live lobster to the world. The new partnership will process 650 tonnes of lobster quota.

This represents approximately 44% of the North Island and Chathams TACC and 23% of New Zealand’s total live lobster exports.

“The coming together of Aotearoa Fisheries and Port Nicholson fisheries is a significant milestone for Maori business and the New Zealand seafood industry” Port Nicholson Fisheries Chairman Dion Tuuta says.

“The partnership brings together like-minded Maori lobster businesses with a common shareholder base, aligned values and a shared vision for the future.”

The collaboration has been four years in the making and is the result of discussions which followed the 2011 Koura Inc project. This project – originally sponsored by the Maori Economic Development Taskforce – advocated for Maori lobster owners to work together throughout the lobster value chain.

Aotearoa Fisheries Chairman Whaimutu Dewes said the partnership demonstrated the power of collaboration among Iwi.

“Kei te kitea te tikanga o te toa takitahi. The value creation of the partnership and further potential value of wider consolidations are significant. This partnership will increase our collective scale and national coverage. It leads to a more active position in the international market place, provides greater efficiencies and provides a more secure base for progress.”

Aotearoa Fisheries CEO, Carl Carrington and AFL Inshore GM, Steve Tarrant will take up Director positions on the Board of Port Nicholson Fisheries General Partner.

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