Post by Kiwi Frontline on Mar 24, 2016 16:28:48 GMT 12
KERMADEC OCEAN SANCTUARY: A 'DANGEROUS' PRECEDENT FOR MAORI RIGHTS?
Maori are fighting to keep fishing in the Kermadecs and there are growing concerns they may have further battles with the Government.
Academic and Ngai Tahu elder Sir Tipene O'Regan says the Government's Kermadec ocean sanctuary was in principle "dangerous" to iwi fishing rights.
"Where does it stop?" he said.
"You can see the Auckland Islands fishery, the Southern Ocean fishery, the Ross Sea fishery...you can see all those coming in for the same kind of treatment."
Te Ohu Kaimoana have taken the Government to court. It was a "last resort" for them.
"We want a declaration that what the Government had undertaken is wrong," Tuuta said.
Although the Prime Minister has ruled out compensating iwi, Tuuta thought it could be "highly likely".
The problem was putting a price on "perpetual rights" of a whole indigenous people. Traditional models of compensation look at catch history as a basis, but in this case iwi hadn't developed the area, Tuuta said.
"We'd probably want to get a better understanding of what that compensation package," he said.
But Tuuta said their stance was about ensuring fishing rights, not about cash payments…..
www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/78188039/Kermadec-ocean-sanctuary-a-dangerous-precedent-for-Maori-rights
Maori are fighting to keep fishing in the Kermadecs and there are growing concerns they may have further battles with the Government.
Academic and Ngai Tahu elder Sir Tipene O'Regan says the Government's Kermadec ocean sanctuary was in principle "dangerous" to iwi fishing rights.
"Where does it stop?" he said.
"You can see the Auckland Islands fishery, the Southern Ocean fishery, the Ross Sea fishery...you can see all those coming in for the same kind of treatment."
Te Ohu Kaimoana have taken the Government to court. It was a "last resort" for them.
"We want a declaration that what the Government had undertaken is wrong," Tuuta said.
Although the Prime Minister has ruled out compensating iwi, Tuuta thought it could be "highly likely".
The problem was putting a price on "perpetual rights" of a whole indigenous people. Traditional models of compensation look at catch history as a basis, but in this case iwi hadn't developed the area, Tuuta said.
"We'd probably want to get a better understanding of what that compensation package," he said.
But Tuuta said their stance was about ensuring fishing rights, not about cash payments…..
www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/78188039/Kermadec-ocean-sanctuary-a-dangerous-precedent-for-Maori-rights