All Iwi To Receive Fisheries Assets

25 February 2006

All Iwi To Receive Fisheries Assets

At the first annual general meeting of Te Ohu Kaimoana in Wellington today Chairman Shane Jones said the organisation aims to have all iwi approved as MIOs before the next annual hui in a years time. “This is a very ambitious plan and will require both Iwi and Te Ohu to continue working together.”

“It’s absolutely imperative that allocation remains on track and occurs as quickly as possible. Each Iwi receive some of its fisheries settlement assets as soon as its MIO is recognised. Getting iwi through the requirements of the Maori Fisheries Act is the number one priority for Te Ohu Kaimoana and the number one priority, we believe, for iwi,” he said.

Mr Jones said three iwi – the first for 2006 – had their mandated Iwi organisations (MIOs) recognised yesterday by Te Ohu Kaimoana, the Maori Fisheries Trust.

The three iwi to reach MIO status this year are Ngati Kuia and Ngati Apa at the top of the South Island and Ngai Tamanuhiri in Gisborne. [See table below for values.] The recognition of these MIOs will allow for the transfer to them of some of their fisheries settlement assets totaling more than $1.7 million.

So far, 12 iwi have reached MIO status, requiring another 45 iwi to be recognised. Mr Jones said several more iwi are likely to be have their MIOs recognised before the end of March. Te Ohu Kaimoana expects to make substantial progress over the rest of the year recognising more MIOs.

IWI APPROX VALUE (NZ$)

Ngati Kuia 712,000
Ngai Tamanuhiri 679,000
Ngati Apa ki te Ra To 358,000

ends

© Scoop Media