Fishery assertion ‘unacceptable’

Press, 19 April 1989, Page 3

Fishery assertion ‘unacceptable’

By

MICHAEL RENTOUL

An assertion by the chairman of the Maori Council, Sir Graham Latimer, that Maoris are entitled to ownership of 100 per cent of the country’s fisheries is unacceptable, says the vice-president of the Fishing Industry Association, Mr Peter Talley.

Mr Talley was responding to reported comments by Sir Graham, that the Maori Council would probably see the Government in court to challenge fisheries legislation and that it opposed the interim offer giving Maoris 10 per cent of the fisheries and a $lO million settlement.

Sir Graham was upset at Government submissions on the Maori Fisheries Bill, proposing 25-year individual transferable quotas for crayfish. While the issue would probably be argued in further submissions it could also be resolved in court.

An injunction sought by Maoris has prevented

rock lobster, squid and mackerel coming under the quota system.

Mr Talley told the Federation of Commercial Fishermen’s conference yesterday that the interim offer of 10 per cent of the fisheries and $lO million represented in value 50 per cent of New Zealand’s inshore fishery. He accused the Government of attempting a settlement of all tribal fisheries claims on the basis of the Muriwhenua claim. He said the Government owed it to nonMaoris to ensure the claim was reheard in court as, he said, it had been based on biased and untested evidence. Mr Talley said he deplored a reluctance by the

public and politicians to speak out on Maori issues for fear of being called racist. “People should remove the coyness that has numbed Maori debate,” he said. “New Zealand fishermen are not opposed to the principle of defining Maori fishing rights. What we are opposed to is attempts to hear the claims and define the rights in a forum other than the law courts.” Mr Talley also said that non-Maoris had been disadvantaged by the Government’s interim offer, which he said should be consigned to the cupboard until after full court proceedings.