MAORI COMMERCIAL AQUACULTURE SETTLEMENT – EXTENSION OF CONSULTATION PERIOD FOR MINISTER’S PLAN

The Minister of Fisheries has extended the consultation period for the plan on the Maori Commercial Aquaculture Settlement and is seeking your input.

The settlement provides a full and final settlement of all Maori claims to commercial aquaculture space since 21 September 1992. The settlement provides iwi with 20 percent of all new space created after 1 January 2005 – the new space obligation. The settlement also provides iwi with the equivalent of 20 percent of existing space created between 21 September 1992 and 1 January 2005 – the pre-commencement space obligation.

The Minister has prepared a plan that assesses and describes how the Crown intends to fulfil its pre-commencement space obligations by 2014. The Minister’s plan deals solely with the obligation relating to pre-commencement space. The purpose of the plan is to provide more certainty about how the settlement assets will be delivered to iwi.

The Minister is seeking your views on the proposals and options contained in the plan.

The plan is presented for the purpose of consultation with Te Ohu Kai Moana Trustee Limited and all iwi aquaculture organisations and recognised iwi organisations. Additionally, the plan is accompanied by supplementary reports on a valuation methodology and peer review.

In July 2008 the Crown entered into discussions with iwi of the South Island and Coromandel regarding an early settlement of the aquaculture settlement in those respective regions. On 13th October, the Crown and iwi representatives signed an Agreement in Principle. The agreement is for a one-off cash payment of $97 million in full and final settlement of the current Crown obligations for “pre-commencement space”. The majority of New Zealand’s aquaculture space and value is located in the South Island and Coromandel region.

Due to recent developments it is necessary to extend the consultation period on the plan.

Following receipt of submissions the Minister will complete a final plan and provide copies to iwi organisations.

 Download Minister's Plan (PDF 262KB)
 Download Valuation Methodology Report (PDF 884KB)
 Download Peer Review Report (PDF 225KB)

EXTENSION FOR SUBMISSIONS

Due to the good progress of the early settlement in the South Island and Coromandel it is appropriate that the consultation on the Minister’s Plan be extended. The Ministry of Fisheries has extended the consultation period for the Plan indefinitely until the Minister provides a 60 days notice that consultation will close. The closing period is likely to occur sometime this year. Where the Ministry receives submissions on the plan, these submissions will inform the settlement process for the relevant regions. For further information contact:

Nicholas Manukau
Ph: (09) 820 1990

Written submissions should be sent directly to:

Nicholas Manukau 
Manager Aquaculture Settlement
Ministry of Fisheries
PO Box 19747
Avondale
AUCKLAND

or email to: aquaculture.settlement@fish.govt.nz  

For further information on the Maori Commercial Aquaculture Settlement click here.

All submissions are subject to the Official Information Act 1982 and can be released, if requested, under the Act. If you have specific reasons for wanting to have your submission withheld, please set out your reasons in the submission. The Ministry will consider those reasons when making any assessment for the release of submissions if requested under the Official Information Act 1982.