Waatea News Update

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Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Friday, May 16, 2008

Future ferment for fish farming

More upheaval in the marine farming sector is promised if National wins the treasury benches this year.

Leader John Key told the Seafood Industry Conference in Wellington this morning it's clear the law governing aquaculture management areas isn't working.

John Key says it's clear the industry has given up waiting for councils to declare new aquaculture management areas, and farmers are heading for Australia or Chile. That’s despite the potential of New Zealand’s long coast, and the quality of the science done here.

He says National will overhaul the marine farming act, to makes sure there are new aquaculture management areas, and that existing areas, such as the Marlborough sounds, can be expanded.

Keir Volkerling from Ngati Wai Fisheries, who has a long involvement in the industry says more radical change at this stage could freeze activity for another five years, just when people are working out how to make the current regime work.

MAUAO FINALLY BACK IN TRIBAL HANDS WITHOUT CONTROL

Tauranga Moana tribes are celebrating the return of Mt Maunganui's distinctive maunga.

Legislation returning Mauao was passed in last night witnessed by sizeable ope from Ngai Te Rangi, Ngati Ranginui, Ngati Pukenga... and Waitaha from Te Puke, which has historic connections to the mountain.

Management remains with the local authority for an interim period, with improved lines of consultation for the iwi.

The Crown took possession of Mauao after the wars of the 1860s, but Parekura Horomia, says the tangata whenua always hoped for its return.

The Minister of Maori Affairs says the generosity of iwi in allowing public access to an area with wahi tapu needs to be recognised.

WAKA UMANGA BILL THREAT TO ESTABLISHED IWI

A bill creating a new legal structure for iwi has been called a good idea 15 years too late.

Fisheries commissioner Sonny Tau presented a submission yesterday on behalf of Te Ohu Kaimoana, where he told the Maori Affairs select committee 49 out of 56 iwi have created mandates iwi organisations to receive their assets from the Maori fisheries settlement trust.

He says iwi fear the Waka Umanga Bill will encourage groups to challenge well-established mandates.

It could also dilute the relationships between existing iwi and the Crown.

The bill also came under fire from the Maori Lawyers Associations, who say while they support its broad intent to create a flexible structure for Maori to organise around, the bill as drafted does not deliver that.

KEY SPEAKS OUT AGAINST WAKA UMANGA

National's leader says a bill creating a new template for Maori organisations could pit Maori against each other.

The Waka Umanga Bill is now before a select committee.

John Key says the bill is is patronising and complicated.

It's supposed to create a ready-made structure iwi can use to receive treaty settlements, but he's not convinced it will work.

“It's also about control of their own destiny, making sure they construct themselves in a way that they want and on that basis we don’t think the Waka Umanga Bill will work and we’re not voting for it,” Mr Key says.

DIOXIN RESIDUE IN EELS CONTRINUTES TO WORKERS’ WOES

Eels taken from the Whakatane River may have contributed to high levels of dioxin in former sawmill employees.

Green MOP Meteria Turei, who was in the Eastern Bay of Plenty town this week as part her tuna tour drawing attention to the state of both the eel fishery says the health of eels reflects the health of the environment.

“When you have

MOANA NOT REALLY ON MAORI MISSION MAYBE

Two of the pioneers of contemporary waiata Maori are launching their new albums in Auckland tonight.

Moana Maniapoto, from Tuwharetoa, has been at the forefront of the Maori music scene since teaming up with the Moahunters in the late 80's.

Her fourth album called naturally enough Wha, follows in the tradition of the band's previous efforts, Tahi, Rua and Toru.

The Auckland-based entertainer says Wha is her first album totally in te reo... but she's convinced her audience is ready.

“I'm not on a mission to be conceived as a Maori language artist. I write in whatever the song warrants, so some of my songs are in English, some are bilingual and some are Maori and that’s a good expression of where Maori are today, we’re kind of comfortable in both realms,” Maniapoto says.

Ruia Aperahama will also release his new album called 12-24, at Auckland's Galatos tonight.

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