Fisheries review gives Maori chance for say

Te Ohu Kaimoana Fisheries settlement trust chief executive Peter Douglas says a review of fisheries management is a good opportunity for Maori to have their say.

Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton yesterday released a discussion document on managing species such as snapper, blue cod, kahawai, paua and rock lobster for which there is intense competition between commercial and non-commercial fishers.

Mr Douglas says Maori participate, in commercial, recreational and customary fishing so they need to talk about the impacts of one sector on another.

“What Maori people need is for there to be a decent balance between the commercial, which we’ve got an interest in now, between the customary, which is part of our heritage, and between the recreational, which is part of a lot of people's everyday lives,” Douglas said.

Peter Douglas says the discussion document is the most comprehensive review of fisheries since the introduction of the Quota Management System in the 1980s.

STREET GANGS CHALLENGE FOR WHANAU

The Maori liaision officer for the Waitakere and Rodney Police District, says the influence of American street gang culture is making the task of parents a lot harder.

Andre Morris says many rangatahi are adopting the dress code and aggressive behaviour they see on films and tv.

Mr Morris says dealing with street gangs takes co-operation between police and communities, but the best solutions are likely to be found in the whanau, and parents can't just give up.

“We've got a new era of kids definitely following what they watch on tv, what they’re mimicking in terms of am street culture, so here we are as police looking at the dynamics of whanau structure. If you kid is walking the streets at 2 am, then where are the parents,” Morris said.

Andre Morris says the death of a 14 year old Avondale boy over the weekend has heightened community concern about the safety of their rangatahi.

TEXT BOOK CASE FOR MAORI BUSINESS

A collection of Maori business case studies produced by Massey University could be followed by a text book looking in depth at issues faced by Maori in the commercial sector.

Editor Malcolm Mulholland says the book launched yesterday, He Wairere Pakihi, profiles 17 Maori owned businesses around ranging from Whare Watch Kaikoura, Palmerston North fashion label Ihi Clothing and land Incorporation Ati Hau Wanganui.

Mr Mulholland says the study did not try to compare Maori and Pakeha businesses, but that may come next.

“I think the next step for Te Ao Rangahau, which is the Maori business research centre which produced the book, is to actually develop a textbook which will look at issues such as that and issues such as quadruple bottom line, what role does tikanga play in Maori business and those sorts of issues,” Mulholland said.

Malcolm Mulholland says He Wairere Pakihi aims to provide lessons in business planning, financial forecasting and marketing.

TREATY WITHDRAWAL START OF CONSTITUTIONAL EFFORT

Ngapuhi man David Rankin says he is withdrawing his Matarahurahu hapu from the Treaty of Waitangi.

Mr Rankin says he will be officially advising both the British High Commissioner and the New Zealand Government of the decision.

He says failure by the Crown to recognise the Kaikohe-based hapu's sovereignty will be a clear breach of international law.

“Matarahurahu wanting to move frm the Treaty, we’re wanting tio move away from the Crown. We want to be able to actually be part of constitutional change in this country, because this country will actually start moving towards a republic, and we as Maori want to be the foundation stone for constitutional change in this country,” Rankin said.

SHEEP FOR PROFIT ON TAIRAWHITI FARMS

A major Gisborne regional initiative aims to significantly increase the profits of East Coast farms.

Tairawhiti Land Development Trust chairperson Kingi Smiler says the Sheep For Profit programme involves eight farms from Wairoa to Tolaga Bay, totaling about 100,000 stock units and 14,000 hectares of land.

Working with meat company Bernard Matthews and veterinary consultants AgriNetworks, the trust is helping Maori farmers better manage soil and stock health and minimise losses of lambs and ewes.

Mr Smiler says start up costs are low, but the increase in productivity goes straight to the bottom line.

“It's adding roughly four and a half kilos of sheepmeat to each of their sheep, and when you include that with an increase in the amount of sheep they are actually producing, they expect a bottom line impact on current prices of about $22,000 annually for each farm,” Smiler said.

Kingi Smiler says the key to Sheep For Profit is making better use of the information farmers collect.

IWI BOOK KEENLY ANTICIPATED

A new publication from the Department of Internal Affairs historical section is already proving a hit with Maori.

Maori Peoples of New Zealand: Nga Iwi o Aotearoa provides histories of all the country's major iwi .

General editor Dr Jock Phillips says much of the material has been available online in the Maori New Zealanders section of the Digital Encyclopedia of New Zealand, and that has helped create a sense of anticipation.

Dr Phillips says he's found it hard to keep a copy for himself.

“On the web it’s available both in te reo Maori and in English, and since we’ve had the book around it’s been hard to keep a copy in my possession, because almost any Maori person in sight has grabbed one and wanted to look at the story of their particular iwi,” Phillips said.

Jock Phillips says the book will be released into book stores over the next week.