Te Puni Kokiri and Ministry of Fisheries Sign Memorandum for Fisheries Agency Review

22 October 2003

Te Puni Kokiri and the Ministry of Fisheries today signed a memorandum of understanding for a review of the Ministry's organisational capability to deliver on its responsibilities to Maori as a Treaty partner.

Ministry of Fisheries Chief Executive Warwick Tuck said that the review would allow the ministry to work collaboratively with Te Puni Kokiri and benefit from its expertise. "We are doing a good job, but there are challenges ahead and I want to improve," said Mr Tuck

"This review is very timely because we are refreshing our draft treaty strategy. Two areas for the review will be improving the framework and processes related to implementing the fisheries Deed of Settlement, and monitoring implementation of the Ministry's strategy for meeting obligations to tangata whenua."

Te Puni Kokiri Chief Executive Leith Comer said that the purpose of agency reviews such as this was about guidance and assistance as much as it was about assessment.

"If we can add value to other ministries' work in the area of Maori outcomes that is a very good thing. Assess and assist is our guiding principle for agency reviews.

"I know that the Ministry of Fisheries is doing some very good work in Mäori and Treaty focussed areas and we are excited at the opportunity of working alongside them at this time," said Mr Comer.

The Ministry of Fisheries has been selected for an agency review because of the recognised importance to both Maori and Government of Maori interests in fisheries.

The 1992 settlement of Maori fisheries claims gave rise to Crown obligations that include specific provisions in relation to both commercial and customary fishing. As Government's lead agency in the fisheries sector, the Ministry of Fisheries is responsible for delivering on those provisions.

Mr Tuck and Mr Comer said that there was already a high level of Maori interest and involvement in fisheries activity and it was probable that the number and complexity of the relationships the Ministry must manage will increase once the fisheries quotas that are currently held by the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission are allocated to iwi.

Mr Tuck said that the Ministry was aware of the importance of developing relationship capabilities and had taken a number of steps towards it in recent years. He said that the review was an ideal time to develop those capabilities even further.