Fishing rights pact to be discussed

Press, 12 September 1988, Page 1

Fishing rights pact to be discussed

By

BRENDON BURNS

political reporter

A possible settlement of Maori fishing rights is expected to be put to fishing industry representatives tomorrow. The Minister for State-Owned Enterprises, Mr Prebble, announced last evening that he was inviting fishing industry representatives to a meeting in Wellington. He has headed the Ministerial sub-committee attempting to resolve the issues which arise out of the Muriwhenua fishing claim in Northland.

This claim, supported by the Waitangi Tribunal, gives Maori tribes in the far North the ownership of all fisheries out to the 200-mile economic zone limit. Mr Prebble and officials have

been meeting Maori representatives to find a formula which gives all New Zealanders equal rights to fish, while protecting Maori rights to the resource. One indication of a possible solution was given a fortnight ago by the member of Parliament for Eastern Maori, the Minister of Police, Mr Tapsell. He suggested a three-part formula focusing on:

9 No individual Maori should have any special privilege not available to all New Zealanders.

9 Maori maraes may have some limited rights to traditional resources.

® Maori tribes may be funded into commercial fishing quotas by the Government.

Mr Prebble gave no indication last evening that a possible for-

mula to resolve the fishing rights issue would be put to tomorrow’s meeting with representatives of* the fishing industry. But, he said, “The fact that discussions are taking place with representatives of all the parties is a very positive sign.” Some of the Maori negotiators involved in the negotiations with the Government will be at the Beehive meeting. Mr Tapsell, who is a member of the Cabinet, made clear in an address a fortnight ago that the Government would not force commercial fishermen out of their quotas in reaching any settlement.

Also, it would not be acceptable for a Maori to be able to take fish or shellfish undersize or in excess of the legally fixed quantity.