Fisheries allocation to begin after iwi approved | Northland News | Local News in Northland

Matiu started the process that eventuated in the Maori commercial fisheries settlement. Graeme Neho, Ngati Kuri chairman

Far North's Ngati Kuri Iwi has been approved as a Mandated Iwi Organisation (Mio) by the Maori Fisheries Trust, Te Ohu Kaimoana.

Ngati Kuri was the last remaining iwi organisation in the Far North to achieve Mio status and will receive ownership of "population assets" from the Maori Commercial Fisheries Settlement.

The population assets consist of deepwater quota, income shares in Aotearoa Fisheries Ltd and cash with a combined value of about $3.2million. Now that all iwi in the Far North are Mios, work on allocating the "coastline assets" - inshore, harbour, remaining deepwater and freshwater fish stocks - can finally begin.

Under the Maori Commercial Fisheries Settlement, adjacent iwi must become Mios before Te Ohu Kaimoana can allocate fisheries assets based on agreed coastlines.

Te Ohu Kaimoana board member Sir Archie Taiaroa said that Ngati Kuri had put in a huge effort, including going through the courts, to become a Mio.

Ngati Kuri chairman Graeme Neho said this achievement would be welcomed by iwi members and their whanau and he paid tribute to the legacy of the late Matiu Rata.

"Matiu started the process that eventuated in the Maori commercial fisheries settlement.

"If it were not for his efforts, Maori commercial fishing would have been relegated to a few small operators only, when collectively Maori are now the major stakeholders in this industry," Mr Neho said.