Details of the Māori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement

The Māori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act 2004 provides a "full and final settlement" of all Māori claims (current and future) over commercial marine farming in the coastal marine area, from 21 September 1992 onwards.

The Act contains the framework for providing aquaculture settlement assets to iwi.

In 2007, the Minister of Fisheries will begin reviewing the Crown's progress towards completing its settlement obligations, and consult with iwi over how further progress will be made.

Any claims relating to marine farming space created before September 1992, and/or omissions of the Crown should be addressed through the Treaty of Waitangi historical claims settlement process.

Terms & Definitions

1. Unitary authorities are certain District or City Councils that assume the responsibility of regional councils for their planning area. They are the Marlborough, Tasman and Gisborne District Councils, and the Nelson City Council.
2. The term "full and final settlement" comes from Section 3, Māori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act 2004.
3. All the settlement assets will be held by the Trustee of the Māori Commercial Aquaculture Settlement Trust (Te Ohu Kai Moana Trustee Ltd), until their distribution to Iwi Aquaculture Organisations, as defined under the Māori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act 2004.
4. The term ‘existing space's was used in the Aquaculture Reform Bill; but in the Māori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act 2004, such space is referred to as ‘pre- commencement space's.