TAUPO MAORIS DEMAND TOLLS FROM ANGLERS FOR ACCESS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22916, 7 April 1949, Page 3

TAUPO MAORIS DEMAND TOLLS FROM ANGLERS FOR ACCESS

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, April 7. Although the Taupo Maoris last December received an award of £45,G00 as compensation for their surrender in 1926 of access rights to trout fishing waters, they are still endeavouring in certain localities to exact individual tolls from anglers.

*f- The latest instance is at the Waitahanui River, one of the most productive stretches of trout water in the world where certain of the local Maoris have erected roadblocks and are demanding payment for access to recently opened pools in the upper reaches of the river. The actions of the Maoris in this instance follow not only on the award of compensation but also on the activities of the newly formed angling association which has a widespread membership drawn from regular visitors. The Maoris waited for this work to be completed and then, having received their access compensation—the Waitahanui award alone was £o3oo—insisted that vehicular access was not covered, established their roadblocks and initiated their demand for tolls. Anglers Demand State Action A statement on the position was issued last night by the Waitahanui Angling Improvement Association. It said; "The Maoris have waited for the anglers themselves to improve fishing conditions and are now seeking to charge them for the fruits of their own

labours. They have been given generous compensation for access rights. They share annually in the distribution of more than £3OOO which the Government collects in license fees from anglers, they assume certain proprietary rights over fishing which is not traditionally Maori but which exists purely as a result of Pakcha acclimatisation efforts,

“Anglers pay the Government £2 a season or 10s a week for the right to fish in Taupo waters. Our cwn members pay an annual subscription to enjoy the l'iver improvements which our association has carried out. “The Maoris succeed in finding loopholes in the law to impose their own additional charges. “All Taupo anglers, and their number runs into thousands in the course of the season, will expect the Government to take strong action in this matter and to insist that the Maoris observe the spirit of the agreement under which, 13 years ago, they sold the fishing rights.”