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Te Ao Hou, March 1974, Page 2

The Editor, TE AO HOU Dear Madam, Through the pages of Te Ao Hou I wish to let the Maori people observe with me a phase of our way of life slowly disappearing—a way of life taught me by my father, and he by his, and what I hoped to teach my sons when their turn came—and that was the right to take the shellfish, etc., from these coasts without any law or regulation as to the amount taken. Gradually these laws crept upon us and we found ourselves limited—this amout of paua, and this amount of kuku, and this amount of pipi because, we were told, preservation of the species is paramount. We always believed in preservation; we were taught to, otherwise we would not be at issue now—there would not be any shellfish left to argue over. It was not us who depleted the paua so that now we can gather only ten; it was not us who depleted the pipi beds so that we can now get only 150; it was and still is those who wish to make money and exploit the situation. Just to show how ludicrous the new regulations are in regards to preservation and rejuvenation, I am told that if I wish, I can buy a commercial fishing licence for ten dollars, which would then entitle me to 500 lb. of paua a day. That does not sound like preservation of species to me. I sincerely hope this way of life does not pass. I hope many generations hence will be able to enjoy this kai as we do now and not just remember a paua as the glaring eyes of a tekoteko in some old meeting house from a dim childhood memory … Auee … Aue … Kua mutu te kai Kua kore te tangata Yours faithfully Pehi Parata