Māori Development
Māori are already significant players in the New Zealand aquaculture industry and their role is expected to grow in the coming years. Te Puni Kōkiri is already working with Māori to develop resources for a sustainable growth framework that takes into account both commercial and kaitiaki (stewardship) aspirations. This will include actively engaging Māori participation at all levels of the industry.
Strengthening Māori success in aquaculture requires the following factors:
• new aquaculture developments must be sound business propositions
• Māori must have access to industry and commercial expertise
• Māori must have the knowledge and human resources to actively participate in the planning process, specifically the Resource Management Act
• emphasis on iwi working together at a regional level to maximise the benefits of the settlement assets
• wider environmental concerns must balance with commercial aquaculture aspirations
• collaboration and relationship building between iwi, community, industry, regional and central government.
Investigating options for settlement space according to the Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act 2004 is a key priority for iwi. To ensure this participation the government is supporting the building of Māori capacity and knowledge, particularly around strategic planning for aquaculture development, and to resolve potential conflicts between customary and commercial objectives. The government is also encouraging commercial ventures between Māori and industry.
A framework for sustainable growth will ensure Māori participation in aquaculture. This will include ensuring that government business assistance programmes and regional development programmes adequately support aquaculture development.
Settlement
“Māori, through Aotearoa Fisheries Ltd and other holdings, already have a substantive role in aquaculture. With the implementation of the aquaculture settlement over the next eight years and beyond, Māori, through iwi organisations, will increase their participation and share of New Zealand aquaculture. Importantly iwi will be involved in aquaculture wherever it occurs in New Zealand. The strategy, along with the aquaculture settlement package, will contribute to regional development including not only the economic development of iwi, but also the success of the industry as a whole.” -Shane Jones, past Te Ohu Kaimoana Chair, excerpt from NZ Aquaculture Strategy
The Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act provides iwi with access to aquaculture space to develop their marine farming interest. The settlement requires the government to provide iwi with 20 per cent of all new aquaculture space. The government is also required to provide iwi with the equivalent of 20 per cent of space created between 21 September 1992 and 31 December 2004. The government is committed to enabling the settlement and is actively working towards this with Te Ohu Kaimoana, Iwi Aquaculture Organisations, local government and the industry.
Aquaculture space delivered to iwi under the Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act is through the Maori Commercial Aquaculture Settlement Trust (the Takutai Trust), which was established under the Act and is managed by Te Ohu Kaimoana. The 20 percent Māori component of any Aquaculture Management Area is provided to the Trust and then allocated to Iwi Aquaculture Organisations.
