Fishfarm backers in hot water

parengarenga meeting

Far North Maori shareholders will today hear why their aquaculture venture failed.

Parengarenga Fishfarm was majority owned by Parengarenga Incorporation, which owns farms, forests and oyster farms of the Aupouri Peninsula.

Fishfarm executive director John Ellis says the venture to grow kingfish in a $7 million facility near Te Kao failed to attract enough outside investment, and there were problems with the supply of juvenile fish from the National Institute of Water and Atmosphere.

He says there were also constant failures with the Danish-built equipment, which meant the venture could never produce enough high quality fish to break even.

IN: We have a feeling the Danish company, IIA, has very little knowledge about kingfish and even less about salt water. Most of their facilities overseas are for fresh water fish, this one is salt, and that is causing problems with pumps and other equipment," Ellis said.

John Ellis says the fish farm cost almost $3000 a day to operate, and it was better to close it down than keep spending money in the hope of rescue.

GREEN ENDORSES WAKA UMANGA PLAN

The Green Party Maori affairs spokesperson says it's timely to look at Maori legal entities and how they can better represent the people.

The Law Commission has tabled a report in Parliament recommending the government create a new legal framework to meet the needs of Maori tribes and other groups that manage communally owned assets.

Meteria Turei says they would differ from the runanga and trust boards, which are effectively structures accountable to government, whereas waka umanga would be set up by and run by maori.

"In the past we've only had government structures like runanga, and we need to find Maori structures, so this is very timely," Turei said.

TARAWERA ANNIVERSARY ERUPTION MARKED

This Saturday marks the 120th anniversary of the eruption of Mt Tarawera, 18 kilometres from Rotorua.

The blast destroyed the famed pink and white terraces, regarded at the time as the eighth wonder of the world.

Te Arawa Maori Trust Board chairman Anaru Rangiheuea, a Tuhourangi descendant, moved back to Lake Tarawera a decade ago, hoping to encourage others of his hapu to do the same.

This weekend's commemorations will include the screening of films about the eruption, plus the chance to travel by boat across Lake Tarawera to the base of the mountain.

Mr Rangiheuea says it's important for young people who whakapapa to the area to understand the history of the region and the fate of many Tuhourangi people.

"People couldn't get away. They didn't have the ability to run or drive away from the area, so they perished here. We believe there are still about 300 people unaccounted for and lost under the mud," Mr Rangiheuea said.

TOKM ELECTORAL COLLEGE CONVENED

The Maori Fisheries Trust Te Ohu Kaimoana is looking for new members.

Chief executive Peter Douglas says for the first time iwi will choose their own representatives, rather than having them selected by the government.

Recognised iwi authorities have been asked to pick their representatives on an electoral college, Te Kawai Taumata, which will then pick replacements for five trustees, including chairman Shane Jones.

Mr Jones is now a backbench Labour MP, and his departure should end accusations Opposition MPs that he is double-dipping.

Mr Douglas says by the time the new trustees are chosen most of the fisheries settlement assets will be in the hands of iwi, so different skills will be needed .

"The next phase of the fisheries trust's work programme is to focus on the fisheries management of those species. It's the most important part of our work. While allocation is the most pressing, the work to ensure what is allocated is worth as much as can be, and for as long as can be, is the work of the next set of commissoners and the next phase of our work," Douglas said.

FISHY INTEREST IN MANIAPOTO POLL

The return of Maori fisheries settlement assets has been given as the reason for keen interest in elections for the Ngati Maniapoto Trust Board.

Sixteen candidates are vying for six seats on the King Country iwi's governing body.

Health worker Kingi Turner is standing for the first time, but he has a high profile in the iwi through his role in Kawau Maaro Maniapoto, which runs the iwi's annual cultural festival.

Mr Turner says the board needs new blood.

"We acknowledge the things done by the board up to now. We beleive we can make a difference for the better, particularly in terms of the fisheries settlement and how Maniapoto will take over the management of that," Turner said.

Kingi Turner says registered Maniapoto members should have received their voter packs.

FISH CAMP LIFE CHANGING

Catching a fish for the first time might not seem like a life changing experience, but for some youngsters it is.

Maori fishing identity Bill Hohepa is planning the next Camp Hohepa, where he takes disadvantaged kids on a week long camp to teach them about fishing and life skills.

He's been running the camps twice a year for the past 13 years.

Mr Hohepa says for ranagathi with little self esteem, landing the biggest fish of the day can have a lasting effect.

He says one teenager he took on a one week trip to Kapiti Island was surly and uninterested, until he got a bite.

"Once the fish came on his eyes were like saucers and it blew him away. All that attitude he had fell on the beach at that moment. From then on all he wanted to do was catch fish. he had found something that pushed his button," Hohepa said.